Many an office breakroom has boasted the sign “Your Mother doesn’t work here—clean up after yourself!” But if you use SYSPRO, there’s a good chance MOM does work at your office. SYSPRO Manufacturing Operations Management, that is.

Known as MOM, SYSPRO’s Manufacturing Operations Management software for manufacturing solutions is certainly different from Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and yet there is still confusion as to the difference between the two. The way these terms are used certainly generates a fair share of confusion, so let’s break them down here.

What Makes MOM Different?

Both the terms MOM and MES describe the technologies that occupy the space described by ISA-95 as “Level 3.” The acronym MOM replaced MES for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the concept of “Execution” does not sit as well with process manufacturing as it does with discrete manufacturing.

First of all, manufacturing software MOM manages end-to-end manufacturing processes in order to optimize efficiency. MES, on the other hand, connects, monitors, and controls complex manufacturing systems and data flows on the factory floor. It ensures effective execution of manufacturing operations.

MOM is a little younger than MES. Created to be inclusive of solutions that evolved to fit in the same space, MOM includes functionalities that don’t strictly fit the original description of MES, such as quality, inventory, production management, enterprise manufacturing intelligence, and myriad other advanced technologies. While the debate over nomenclature continues, these days, the term MES is often used by vendors because it’s familiar, even though their solutions might be more properly referred to as a MOM.

As a technology pioneer in the vanguard of Industry 4.0, SYSPRO has embraced the newer and less ambiguous acronym “MOM.” MOM technologies help future-proof businesses by embracing Industry 4.0 opportunities through the strategic adoption of technologies and protocols that provide the digital foundation for the highly automated Smart Factory.

Why Manufacturers Need MOM/MES

Despite the technical debate, most safely consider MOM and MES to be similar. Now we can look at the advantages that MOM/MES brings to the problems of manufacturing.

To start with, it’s an important fact that a thoroughly modern MOM should be device agnostic. This means that any device (PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.) should be able to interact with MOM, as long as it can open and run a browser. This is especially important as the number and utility of devices multiplies, allowing companies and individuals to customize and optimize their user experience. Although it may seem relatively inconsequential in the overall manufacturing organization, device agnosticism is an important step toward future proofing your factory.

MOM’s guiding hand brings business-wide benefits. At a quick glance, MOM can provide significant help in:

• Delivering finished goods faster to customers
• Controlling labor and machine costs,
• Reducing downtime and bottlenecks
• Increasing productivity and output
• Measuring and improving product quality
• Eliminating waste
• Driving Lean and continuous improvement programs
• Reducing operation costs.

Your MOM provides these benefits by collecting production information over multiple plants, integrating easily with equipment, controllers, and your SYSPRO ERP. The result is business-wide visibility and control, as well as the optimization of production activities from customer orders to finished goods.

PositiveVision Works With Your MOM

Maybe you wouldn’t want to walk into your office and see your mother there, but if MOM seems like the right solution for your manufacturing business needs, it might be time to call PositiveVision. We’ve built a legacy of helping clients streamline inefficient processes, improving productivity, competitiveness, and profitability. Just like your mother, we’ll be there with you every step of the way as you connect MOM to your SYSPRO ERP instance.

Ready to work with MOM? Contact PositiveVision today!