So why 3rd Generation MES , Model driven industrial Operations is the Only Path for Today's world

A lot of reactions to last 3 weeks of blogs, interest and discussion, but that discussion has been direct with me on email or face to face, pity as many you miss out.

The discussions reinforced that the time of model driven operational solutions is here and not for one reason but many, and that it really is the only way to develop an architecture that can grow in functionality and agility and size. As well as deal with the transformation of the operational workforce, and the new paradigm this will bring with the dynamic, short tenure ship.

Combine this with the agility to evolve, add differential value through the capture best operational practices, embedded them, and evolve them.

Time and time again CEOs and COOs say as they move to off the shelf products, their differentiation will be based on the operational practices that put into practice.

Last week I discussed the critical move away from customization in solutions to configuration, within the framework of the tools. A lot of the feedback, this week, was in agreement that their existing MES type solutions either custom( internal) or first or second generation MES with significant customization have worked well in a STABLE operational environment. Over and over again the comment came that it is time for change, to a system that can:

1/ Enable evolution of operational practices by capturing the best practices

2/Rapid product introduction and evolutions

3/ the ability to scale over multiple sites in a sustainable way with common product definitions across the sites.

4/ transparency across site and multi site eg the value chain

5/ empowerment of decisions in the NOW and consistency of actions across different roles, shifts

Two feedbacks this week relative to the modern operational system:

1/ MES functionality as defined by Mesa and ISA95 is a commodity

2/ assume operational/ production change 3/ assume operational workforce, people transition and evolution

These are key comments when we consider why the 3rd generation MES based upon core MES functionality in a scalable architecture naturally extended with model driven (workflow) operational practice capture.

So I get shocked when I hear that people are still saying develop a custom MES/ MOM system, why waste the energy on a mature technology, and focus your energy on differentiating through the capture and embedding of operational practices and actions, while empowering decisions in the NOW across the operational community in the organization.?