How a MES Helps Manufacturers Maximise Efficiency

From labour shortages and supply chain vulnerabilities to rising energy costs, Australian manufacturers are navigating evolving demands. 

They often face short production runs, a high mix of parts, and tight deadlines. For these small to mid-sized operations, achieving efficient scheduling, maintaining quality, and maximising profitability are vital to staying competitive. 

To stay competitive Australian manufacturers must embrace advanced technologies and adapt quickly to shifting market demands.

ECI Solutions Manufacturing Execution System (MES) offers manufacturers powerful tools to optimise workflows, gain real-time visibility, and make data-driven decisions. It integrates with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to transform job shop operations.

Here’s a closer look at how MES and ERP systems empower Australian manufacturers to thrive in a demanding industry.

For many discrete manufacturers, they are often accommodating fluctuating orders, handling custom jobs, and managing different processes for each client. Traditional scheduling methods, like spreadsheets, can quickly become overwhelming.

MES automates and optimises scheduling, allowing manufacturing companies to create accurate schedules that adapt to changing conditions.

With ECI MES, businesses can use real-time data to adjust schedules based on machine availability, material constraints, and workforce. This agility allows them to maximise uptime, avoid bottlenecks, and ensure jobs are completed on time—without overburdening resources or employees.

A common challenge in job shops is tracking what’s happening on the shop floor in real time. ECI MES integrates with M1 ERP to provide real-time visibility. This allows managers to monitor each job, machine status, and workforce activity from a central interface.

This continuous flow of information enables more accurate planning, faster responses to issues, and better overall control of operations. With ECI MES, managers get the full benefits of a manufacturing ERP. They can track the progress of each job, down to individual work centres and machines.

This visibility helps them quickly identify delays, address issues, and update customers with accurate timelines, boosting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Equipment downtime is a costly issue for manufacturers, often stemming from unscheduled maintenance, bottlenecks, or operational inefficiencies.

ECI MES addresses these pain points by providing tools for preventive maintenance, machine monitoring, and capacity planning. This helps manufacturers get the most out of their resources.

With ECI MES’s machine monitoring capabilities, job shops can set up predictive maintenance schedules based on real-time performance data. By tracking metrics like cycle times and machine hours, the system can alert operators when maintenance is due. This prevents unexpected breakdowns and maximises equipment uptime.

Quality control is paramount for manufacturers. Even minor defects can lead to costly rework, delays, and unhappy customers.

ECI MES integrates quality control directly into the production process. This powerful manufacturing software enables managers to monitor product quality in real time and prevent errors before they become bigger problems.

With ECI MES, operators can conduct quality checks at specific stages of production. Any issues can be flagged and resolved immediately, reducing the chances of scrap or rework. This focus on quality not only reduces waste but also builds customer trust and enhances the business' reputation.

For Australian manufacturers, managing workforce productivity is as important as managing machines and materials. ECI MES provides tools for tracking labour activities, productivity rates, and even individual operator performance.

This data helps managers understand productivity levels, address performance issues, and make informed decisions to improve workforce efficiency.

ECI MES includes time-tracking features, enabling job shops to monitor employee attendance and time spent on each job. ECI MES also offers customisable reports that present critical KPIs like equipment utilisation, cycle times, and on-time delivery rates.

This data gives job shop owners and managers insights into their operations, empowering them to set realistic goals, track progress, and adjust strategies to improve profitability.

By analysing this level of details and reporting, managers can more easily identify inefficiencies, improve scheduling, and ensure that labour is used effectively. The result is a productive workforce and a clear understanding of labour costs associated with each job.

ECI MES simplifies ISO or AS9100 compliance by providing features that track and document production activities, such as detailed audit trails that show every step of a production process, including operator actions and machine data.

This automated documentation supports compliance efforts, makes audits much easier than before.

ECI MES stands out as a game-changer for manufacturers. It connects with our top-performing M1 ERP software to offer full ERP system benefits.

ECI MES is your advanced solution to help increase productivity, reduce waste, and ultimately improve your bottom line.