In the journey of digital transformation in manufacturing, MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is no longer an unfamiliar concept-it has become one of the core pillars of the “smart factory.”
In the first two installments of the Decoding MES series, we examined the theoretical foundations and strategic benefits of MES.
Before adopting MES, many Vietnamese manufacturers still operated under a “traditional workshop” model: manual data entry, delayed reporting, and siloed systems across departments.
This resulted in numerous operational blind spots:
- Lack of real production visibility: managers had to wait until end-of-day reports to identify delayed lines or machine breakdowns.
- Fragmented data: inventory, production, and accounting systems were not synchronized, leading to discrepancies in stock levels and output figures.
- Slow traceability: when product defects occurred, it could take hours-or even days-to trace affected batches, materials, or shifts.
A notable example is the Comet factory in Penang, Malaysia-a high-tech component manufacturer under the Comet Group.
Prior to MES implementation, Comet relied heavily on Excel spreadsheets and paper-based reports, making progress monitoring and quality assurance highly challenging.
As market demand surged, management set an ambitious goal: to double production output within just six months-an objective that seemed nearly impossible under the existing operating model.
According to an official report by 42Q (2024)-the cloud-based MES solution provider for Comet-the company deployed an MES system fully integrated with its machinery and existing ERP. Within just a few months, the results were remarkable:
- Production output doubled within six months, without increasing headcount.
- Paper documentation in manufacturing processes was reduced by 70%.
- Decision-making became significantly faster, driven by real-time production data.
Numerous international studies have documented substantial performance improvements following MES adoption.
According to Aberdeen Group and MESA International, manufacturing enterprises report average improvements as follows:
According to MESA International, many MES projects fail to achieve the expected ROI within the first 12–18 months, primarily because companies treat MES as an IT project rather than an operational transformation initiative.
Drawing from InfoPlus’s MES deployments and broader market experience, three core lessons emerge:
First, MES must be embedded in production management-not merely used for report digitization.
Factories that use MES only for dashboard viewing rarely see meaningful improvements. MES delivers value only when real-time data actively supports in-shift decision-making, with clearly defined KPIs and accountability.
Second, implement in small, focused phases.
Successful projects typically start with the most problematic workshops or processes-those with high downtime or defect rates. Demonstrating measurable results within 3-6 months before scaling up helps achieve early ROI and reduces implementation risks.
Third, MES is effective only within an integrated ecosystem.
A standalone MES solves only part of the problem. True value emerges when MES is integrated with ERP, inventory, and accounting systems-ensuring synchronized and consistent production, inventory, and financial data.
Real-world case studies and market data consistently show that success in manufacturing digital transformation does not come from robots or automation lines alone-but from data integration and process alignment.
MES is the “heart” that connects this data-from equipment, people, and materials to planning and finance.
With InfoERP M, InfoPlus aims to provide Vietnamese enterprises with an MES platform that is:
- Deep enough to manage end-to-end manufacturing operations.
- Open enough to integrate seamlessly with ERP, accounting, and HR systems.
- Flexible enough to scale and evolve alongside business growth.
