Basics
What is an MES (manufacturing execution system)?
A manufacturing execution system (MES) is the software layer between business IT (ERP) and automation (process control system, PLC, SCADA). It records what actually happens in production – alarms, process and machine data, downtime, consumption, shift events – analyses it and makes it available to the right people. In the ISA-95 level model, the MES is level 3.
How does MES differ from ERP and SCADA?
The ERP system does the business planning: orders, materials and costs, usually in days and weeks. SCADA and the process control system control and monitor the plant second by second. The MES connects both worlds: it makes production transparent shift by shift and hour by hour, archives data for the long term and delivers KPIs such as OEE, energy consumption or alarm KPIs. An MES replaces neither ERP nor the control system; it complements both.
What are the benefits of an MES?
More transparency, data availability and plant safety: optimisation potential becomes visible, quality and production data remain fully traceable, and faults can be detected earlier. Each group of users receives the information it needs – a production manager different information than an operator in the control room.
Plant Historian
Which tasks does Plant Historian cover?
Plant Historian is a modular MES software suite for alarm management and alarm rationalisation, process data archiving and analysis, production and machine data acquisition, OEE, energy management per ISO 50001, reporting, process visualisation, predictive maintenance, traceability and digital checklists. The digital shift book is added with SHIFTGURU.
Do I have to introduce the entire MES suite at once?
No. The Plant Historian modules are independent. You start with the area that brings the greatest benefit – such as alarm management or OEE – and add further modules when you need them.
Which control systems and PLCs can Plant Historian connect to?
Via standardised interfaces to the DCS and PLC world, above all OPC. Connected systems include Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7, S7 and WinCC, Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion, ABB Freelance and 800xA, and Foxboro I/A Series; machines and meters also via Modbus, M-Bus and 4–20 mA signals.
Which standards does Plant Historian follow?
The alarm KPIs follow ISA 18.2, NAMUR NA102 and EEMUA 191, energy management follows ISO 50001 and food traceability follows ISO 22000.
Where is Plant Historian in use?
Plant Historian has been in use for years at industrial companies in Europe, Asia and South America, including the chemical and petrochemical industries, the food industry and automotive suppliers.
