MES vs. ERP: Understanding the Difference and How They Work Together

What’s the difference between MES (Manufacturing Execution System) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)?

Here’s the key: ERP is for planning, while MES is for execution.

*In this video, we break down:*
✅ The core functions of ERP and MES
✅ Why ERP is not the center of your digital universe
✅ How MES bridges the gap between planning and execution
✅ Decision loops for ERP (months to quarters) vs. MES (minutes to shifts)

🎯 *The Takeaway:* MES is where manufacturing happens, turning plans into action while ERP supports strategic planning.

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#MES #ERP #DigitalTransformation #ManufacturingExcellence #Industry40

[SkatJuan]

thank you for sharing the differences! it's a good start for beginners or to explain to another roles in the company, like salespersons or so... keep it up !

[NickNiculita-nicks-software]

People often get confused about MES and ERP systems. They think they're competing solutions, but they're really two different layers of the manufacturing stack. It's like comparing your brain to your hands - they both matter, but they do completely different things.
ERP is the business brain. It handles all the thinking about money, planning, and resources. When you need to know how much something costs, or whether you have enough raw materials to make it through the month, that's ERP territory. It's built for people in offices making business decisions.
MES is more like the hands - it's where actual making happens. It's down on the factory floor, tracking each product as it's made, monitoring machines in real-time, and making sure everything's running right. When an operator needs to know what to make next or a machine breaks down, that's MES territory.
The interesting thing is that most companies get this backwards. They buy an ERP system first, then realize they can't track what's actually happening on their factory floor. It's like buying a fancy chess computer but having no way to move the pieces.
The smartest manufacturers figure out that they need both, working together. ERP sends down the plans - what to make and when. MES executes those plans and sends back what really happened. Without this connection, you're basically running your factory blind.
The trick isn't choosing between them. It's getting them to talk to each other properly.

[djamel-arbouche]

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise ! I have been catching up industry 4.0 knowledge thanks to your videos for the last days 😊

[sgaspari]

Thank you! I'm in the middle of a transformation program and this is really helpful.

[andresherrera]

Do your think that mes can be an erp module ? With cloud is most common to see edge and cloud layers independtly and in cloud layer can colive bi ai ml, historian, erp and mes but not in hierarchical way

[mapyn]

many businesses apply a process known as mrb, is this quality process managed in erp or mes in this new world?

[akshaygoyal]

But I thought in the other video, you said that production scheduling and optimization is done in the MEas layer. Now I am confused 🤔

[kisin]

Just what I needed! I was wondering how do you treat manual labor though. In our case labor hours are captured directly in ERP layer. Should this go through the MES layer instead (ie the worker as a machine)?