From Wiki, Manufacturing execution system (MES) is a computerized system used in manufacturing to track and document the transformation of raw materials to finished goods. MES provides information that helps manufacturing decision makers understand how current conditions on the plant floor can be optimized to improve production output. MES works in real time to enable the control of multiple elements of the production process. In short, it’s a scalable cross web system that display and help track the entire production process.
Why we need MES for paint shop setup?
First let’s see a quick list of it’s advantages as following
- Reduced waste, re-work and scrap, including quicker setup times.
- More accurate capture of cost-information (e.g. labor, scrap, downtime, and tooling)
- Increased uptime
- Incorporate paperless workflow activities
- Manufacturing operations traceability
- Decreases downtime and easy fault finding
- Reduced inventory, through the eradication of just-in-case inventory
A modern paint shop is high level automation with minimum human operation that provides high efficient production. A MES system provides a workable web interface of each functional devices in paint shop such as the paint booth, paint flow and air conditioning etc. Users not only be able to view each unit working state but also be able to send quick command for instant control and error fix. That means, management people do not need to enter workshop at all for full production managing.
How to apply MES for paint shop?
MES is a software programming based the client side specific requirement so it’s not a standard solution. It may vary a lot depends the different paint shop configurations. On technical side, the programmer must understand what units to control then communicate to it’s PLC and put into web system. As we see, it’s not an easy task. Not just software side capacity, the paint shop units must meet with the basic web commnication requirements. It’s high end setup and many parts are robotic devices in order to seamlessly connecting with each stage.
MES is a must to meet with industry 4.0 standards for paint shop construction. For many production factories especially for automotive industry, MES is extremely demanded for high quality production.
