MES: Manufacturing Execution System
FactoryVision counts finished discrete parts and tracks station downtime with a camera at each machine. It runs locally and works alongside plant systems. It is not an ERP, MES or SCADA system.
A **Manufacturing Execution System (MES)** helps manage and track production on the factory floor. It connects production plans with information about work taking place at machines and stations.
Depending on the system and its configuration, MES functions include:
- Dispatching and tracking work orders.
- Recording production progress and completed quantities.
- Tracking work in process, routes or batches.
- Recording production and quality data for traceability.
MES concerns the execution of production work. It is a system; OEE is a metric.
OEE: Overall Equipment Effectiveness
**Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)** measures how effectively equipment uses its planned production time. It combines three factors:
- **Availability:** Run time divided by planned production time. Stops within planned production time reduce availability.
- **Performance:** Actual output during run time compared with output at the ideal cycle time. Slow cycles and small stops reduce performance.
- **Quality:** First-pass good count divided by total count. Parts that are scrapped or require rework reduce quality.
**OEE = Availability × Performance × Quality**
| Factor | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Availability | Run time ÷ planned production time |
| Performance | Ideal cycle time × total count ÷ run time |
| Quality | First-pass good count ÷ total count |
The factors show where to investigate losses; they do not identify the root cause by themselves. Define planned production time and the treatment of stops consistently before comparing results.
An MES or SCADA system is not required to calculate OEE. The calculation above requires planned production time, run time, ideal cycle time, total count and first-pass good count. **Part counts and downtime alone do not establish full OEE.**
SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
**SCADA** collects and displays industrial process data and provides supervisory control. It communicates with devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), remote terminal units and instrumentation.
A SCADA system displays process variables and alarms and, where configured, sends supervisory commands or setpoints. Its focus is monitoring and control of the process; MES focuses on production execution.
CMMS: Computerized Maintenance Management System
A **Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)** organizes maintenance information and work. It supports activities such as:
- Scheduling preventive maintenance.
- Creating and tracking maintenance work orders.
- Recording repairs and equipment history.
- Managing spare-parts information.
A CMMS helps maintenance teams organize work and records. Not every production stop is a maintenance event: material waiting and changeovers, for example, are different from equipment repairs.
Andon: shop-floor status and calls for attention
**Andon** is a shop-floor signaling method. A station signal, display or alarm draws attention to a condition so the appropriate person can respond.
The meaning of colors and signals is set by the factory. A signal can indicate normal operation, a request for help or a stoppage; the site’s own convention defines what each indication means.
ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning
**Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)** software supports business-wide planning and resource management. It addresses business-wide resources and plans; shop-floor systems record and support production activity.
Which term answers which question?
| Term | Main question |
|---|---|
| **MES** | What is happening to production work on the factory floor? |
| **OEE** | How effectively did equipment use its planned production time? |
| **SCADA** | What is happening in the industrial process, and what supervisory control is needed? |
| **CMMS** | What maintenance work and equipment history need to be managed? |
| **Andon** | What condition needs attention on the shop floor? |
| **ERP** | How are business resources and plans organized? |
| **FactoryVision** | How many finished parts has a station produced, and what is its downtime status? |
These functions describe different jobs. A factory’s systems and workflows determine how information moves between them.
Where FactoryVision fits
The models run on a small computer in the factory.
FactoryVision fits countable, discrete parts that the camera can see, such as doors and furniture components. It does not fit a continuous output stream such as extrusion. FactoryVision runs in a Turkish wooden door and furniture factory.
FactoryVision is not an ERP, MES or SCADA system. It provides part counts and station downtime tracking alongside those systems.
Sources and claims
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MES supports production execution | NIST MES glossary | Technical reference |
| SCADA gathers process data and provides supervisory control | NIST SCADA glossary | Technical reference |
| OEE factors and calculations | Vorne OEE calculation reference | Industry reference |
| CMMS organizes maintenance information and work | IBM CMMS overview | Industry reference |
| Andon shop-floor signaling method | Lean Enterprise Institute Andon definition | Industry reference |
| ERP supports business-wide planning and resource management | NIST ERP glossary | Technical reference |
| FactoryVision part counting, downtime, camera placement, local processing, daily targets and status colors | Supplied house-style sample, `count-finished-work-with-one-camera` | Supplied product copy |
| FactoryVision runs in a Turkish wooden door and furniture factory; product scope and system boundaries | Founder facts, 2026-11-13 | Founder-provided fact |
| Introductory-call link and setup process | Founder facts, 2026-11-13 | Founder-provided information |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MES and SCADA?
MES supports and tracks production execution, including work orders and production progress. SCADA monitors industrial processes and provides supervisory control.
Can I calculate OEE without MES or SCADA?
Yes. The calculation requires planned production time, run time, ideal cycle time, total count and first-pass good count. Counts and downtime alone are insufficient for the full calculation.
Is an andon signal the same as a maintenance work order?
No. An andon signal draws attention to a shop-floor condition. A maintenance work order records and organizes maintenance work. A signal can lead to a work order when maintenance is needed.
Does FactoryVision replace MES or SCADA?
No. FactoryVision counts finished discrete parts and tracks station downtime. It operates alongside plant systems.
Book an introductory call
Book an introductory call to discuss your production setup. After the call, the FactoryVision team gets to know your machines and processes so the setup fits your facility.