MES Specification Sheet – Smart Factory Glossary

An MES specification sheet is a document that describes a company's requirements for a Manufacturing Execution System (MES). The MES specification sheet helps to determine the exact scope of functions, to select a suitable MES, and to implement the system in the company. A structured and comprehensive MES specification sheet contributes significantly to the success of a system implementation.

The specification sheet contains technical requirements as well as economic and organizational aspects, which vary from company to company. Functional requirements might be monitoring production, tracking production orders, or managing raw materials, and finished products. Non-functional requirements might be scalability, system availability, and security.

When preparing an MES specification sheet, companies should have a general idea of their established processes, workflows, and IT infrastructure as these must be mapped in their future system. The interaction of ERP and MES is of essential importance. It is also paramount to know which machines and equipment are working on the shop floor and how to connect them to the system.