Trendtalk - Which trends determine the development of MES?
The requirements for modern manufacturing execution systems (MES) are changing at a rapid pace. Technological advances, new regulatory requirements and the increasing integration of innovative approaches such as AI and cloud solutions are shaping the industry.
But how are MES manufacturers facing up to these challenges and which trends will have a significant impact on the future of production control?
In this interview, we take a look with Thomas Krainz (Member of the Board & Strategic Product Management at Industrie Informatik) at some of the key developments, strategies and innovations that will shape the MES world in the coming years. From the integration of chatbots and security standards to hybrid cloud approaches and the further development of core functions – exciting insights into an industry in transition await you.
Mr. Krainz, how do you see the future functional scope of an MES? How are you addressing this development, and which future requirements have you already implemented or are you planning to integrate into cronetwork in the short to medium term?
Krainz: In the context of the “dissolution of the classic automation pyramid”, we have been working on several key areas for years in order to make our MES fit for the future:
Further technical development: we place great importance on the integration and communication capabilities of our MES as well as on open architectures that extend from the control level to the cloud. This openness enables seamless collaboration with other systems and platforms.
Project and user orientation: The increasing demands for individualization require tailor-made solutions. This includes flexible user interfaces for different user groups – from workers and foremen to work preparation and production management – as well as customizable processes and easy integration into the existing software landscape. This requires not only technological innovations, but also new skills in the consulting departments.
Focus on MES core functions: Despite the growing requirements, the optimization of MES core functions remains a central focus. While attempts were previously made to bundle all shop floor requirements directly in the MES, a stronger focus on standardization has now been established – supported by guidelines such as VDI and VDMA. In view of the increasing complexity of smart manufacturing solutions, we carefully examine which functions should be integrated directly into the MES and which are better covered by best-of-breed systems. A helpful benchmark here is the standardizability of processes and workflows.
With this strategy, we ensure the future viability of our MES and support our customers in reacting flexibly and efficiently to future challenges.
Chatbots have become an integral part of everyday life. Do you also see potential for the use of chatbots in MES solutions?
The development of chatbots is progressing rapidly, especially by large software manufacturers. This technology, which is intuitive and can even be used by children, will also play a role in business software such as MES solutions in the medium term. We currently see two main areas of application that we are evaluating:
- Stand-alone applications: Here, a chatbot could be used as a mobile solution similar to ChatGPT to complete smaller tasks in everyday MES work. Examples would be querying machine information or the vacation status.
- Integrated chat portlets: Another area of application would be a chat portlet that is integrated directly into our freely configurable user interfaces. This could operate in the context of other portlets and thus be seamlessly integrated into existing work processes.
In this context, we are also examining whether private language models are required for such applications and how they can be operated economically.
Security is a key issue, and the EU Cyber Resilience Act provides clear guidelines. How do you implement security requirements in your MES solutions?
The EU Cyber Resilience Act, which was passed in October, provides us with specific requirements that we integrate into our software components. One example of this is two-factor authentication, which you may already be familiar with from e-banking. But there are also requirements in software development, such as the SBOM (Software Bill of Materials), which documents all software components and libraries used at the touch of a button, checks for security gaps and provides relevant patches in a timely manner.
Another important aspect is the implementation of the NIS2 directive. This affects us as a software manufacturer, SaaS provider and supplier for companies with 200 employees or more that are integrated into supply chains. Here, we are focusing in particular on ISO 27001 certification, which guarantees a high level of security.
There are also new challenges in the area of AI applications, such as adversarial and poisoning attacks. These attacks manipulate input or training data and are often difficult to detect and resolve.
What is your strategy when it comes to cloud-based solutions versus on-premise solutions?
We offer both on-premise and cloud-based solutions to meet the different requirements of our customers. We attach great importance to supporting flexible architectures that enable hybrid scenarios – i.e. mixed forms of cloud and on-premise solutions.
A crucial foundation is the use of technologies and architectures that can map the entire information flow from the edge to the fog and into the cloud. These solutions must not only be powerful and scalable, but also reliably ensure the persistence, transport and processing of data.
In addition to technology, the right know-how is also essential for smart manufacturing solutions. We rely on experienced employees who, in addition to traditional consulting tasks, also specialize in areas such as solution design and the individualization of systems using no-code and low-code technologies. This enables us to orchestrate highly individualized production solutions with intelligent add-ons based on the MES.
Through innovative approaches, we create solutions that offer AI-based planning, intralogistics support and other smart features. At the same time, we ensure that these solutions remain easy to maintain and adhere to strict release standards.
MES manufacturers should be able to develop and orchestrate intelligent shop floor solutions by contributing in-depth process expertise. The aim is to seamlessly integrate the core functions of the MES with the existing software landscape and best-of-breed components.
Anita Peherstorfer
