MES Capabilities Checklist for Small to Mid-Sized Manufacturers

As small and mid-sized manufacturers work to stay competitive in an increasingly demanding market, many are adopting digital tools to boost efficiency and gain real-time visibility into their operations.

Among the most impactful tools in this transformation is the Manufacturing Execution System (MES), which essentially acts as a real-time command center for production.

Once viewed as a solution primarily for large-scale operations, MES solutions have become commonplace among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking to streamline their production operations and drive better business outcomes. In fact, the global MES market was valued at $16.57 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $41.78 billion by 2032, highlighting its growing relevance across the manufacturing landscape.

Not all MES systems deliver the same value, however. To realize the full potential of this tool, certain core capabilities are essential. In this guide, we’ll outline the key features your MES should offer to keep your manufacturing operations running at their best

What is an MES?

A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is a software platform that connects, monitors, and controls manufacturing processes or operations on the shop floor.  It acts as a digital bridge between high-level business systems, like inventory management software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and the physical processes involved in production.

The MES collects information from machines, operators, sensors, and other systems to offer a live view of what’s happening on the shop floor. Overall, the primary goal of an MES is to make sure manufacturing operations are carried out consistently, according to plan, and with maximum efficiency.

Why Small to Mid-Sized Manufacturers Need an MES

Small and mid-sized manufacturers often operate with lean teams, tight margins, and limited resources. Such an operation model makes efficiency and accuracy absolutely critical. Yet many still rely on outdated tools such as spreadsheets, paper-based records, or whiteboards to manage production. These manual methods can result in delays, errors, and missed opportunities for improvement.

An MES offers a powerful alternative. Unlike manual systems, an MES automates data collection and standardizes workflows, which reduces the risk of human error and frees up time to focus on higher-value activities that drive productivity and growth.

Just as importantly, an MES delivers real-time visibility into shop floor operations. Manufacturers can monitor production progress, track equipment performance, and quickly respond to issues as they arise. 

MES Capabilities Checklist for SMBs

When evaluating a Manufacturing Execution System for your small or mid-sized manufacturing operation, it’s essential to prioritize features that will deliver the most value. MES platforms can vary widely in functionality, so knowing which capabilities truly matter will help you select a solution that supports your goals and scales with your business.

With that being said, let’s look at the most important MES capabilities that should be on your checklist:

Real-Time Data Collection & Monitoring

An MES must provide real-time visibility into production processes by collecting data directly from machines, sensors, and operators on the shop floor. This includes information like machine status, part counts, cycle times, and operator input. 

Access to real-time data enables you to quickly detect and respond to issues such as equipment malfunctions, production delays, or quality deviations.

Production Tracking & Scheduling

An effective MES should provide tools for tracking and managing the flow of production. This includes monitoring job status, sequencing tasks, and dynamically adjusting schedules based on real-time shop floor conditions.

If disruptions occur, such as equipment failures or material shortages, the system should be able to automatically reschedule work to minimize delays.

Work Order Management

An MES should support detailed work order management. It should allow your team members, such as operators and supervisors to access, execute, and update work orders access, execute, and update work orders with clear, detailed instructions including material requirements, task sequences, and specifications.

This ensures consistency in how jobs are performed, reduces errors, and aligns production activities with customer specifications or engineering standards.

Quality Control and Assurance

The MES should have quality control (QC) features to ensure that every product meets the required specifications and quality standards. This includes tools for setting up in-process inspections, monitoring quality metrics, and logging any defects or non-conformance issues.

The system should also support automated quality checks throughout the production process. Early detection of quality issues minimizes rework, reduces scrap, and helps prevent defective products from reaching the customer.

Inventory Tracking 

An effective MES should provide real-time visibility into inventory across the shop floor. It should track the status and location of raw materials, WIP (work in progress), and finished goods across the production floor. This visibility allows manufacturers to optimize inventory levels, which helps prevent issues like production delays (which can lead to stockouts) or overproduction. 

Traceability and Genealogy

An effective MES should provide comprehensive traceability and product genealogy. In other words, it should allow you to track the full history of a product from raw materials through to the finished goods. This includes detailed records of components, batches, machines, and operators involved at each stage of production. 

Such traceability is invaluable for conducting root cause analysis, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and managing recalls effectively. In industries with strict quality and safety requirements, being able to quickly trace a product’s full history can be crucial in addressing issues and maintaining customer trust.

Regulatory Compliance 

An MES should be equipped to support regulatory compliance, particularly in industries with stringent oversight, such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and medical devices.

The system should also streamline compliance processes by generating audit trails that document every decision made in the manufacturing process. It should also include built-in tools for generating compliance reports for regulatory bodies during audits or inspections. 

Integration with Existing Systems

The MES should easily integrate with your existing systems, such as ERP and warehouse management system (WMS). Seamless integration allows your production data to flow smoothly between systems, ensuring that all aspects of your business are aligned and that everyone is working with the same up-to-date data. 

Analytics & Reporting

An MES system should include powerful analytics and reporting tools to transform shop floor data into useful business insights. Users should be able to track key performance indicators (KPIs), visualize trends, and generate custom reports to support better decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.

Key Considerations When Selecting an MES Solution

We’ve looked at some of the key features that every top-notch MES system should have. However, before you make your final decision in terms of selecting a solution for your SMB, there are several other important factors to consider. 

Your Needs and Pain Points

Before even looking at MES vendors, take the time to thoroughly analyze your current manufacturing processes and identify the specific challenges you're trying to solve. Are you struggling with a lack of real-time visibility, inefficient manual data collection, quality control issues, or inventory management problems? 

Documenting these pain points will help you focus on the MES capabilities that will deliver the most value or have the greatest impact on your manufacturing operation.

Scalability and Flexibility

As a small or mid-sized manufacturer, your needs today might not be the same as they will be in a few years. The MES should be scalable to grow alongside your business. It should allow you to add new production lines, increase user capacity, and scale to additional locations without requiring a complete system overhaul.

Additionally, the MES should be flexible enough to adapt to your unique business needs or workflows, including your specific manufacturing approach (e.g., discrete or process manufacturing)..

Ease of Implementation and Use

The MES should be easy to implement, especially considering that, as an SMB, you may not have extensive IT departments or resources to devote to lengthy system rollouts. A complex, long-winded deployment could disrupt your operations and incur significant costs.

The MES should have an intuitive interface that is easy for your team to use, especially if you have employees with varying levels of technical expertise. A complicated or overly technical system can lead to confusion, delays, and ultimately poor adoption, which can undermine the effectiveness of the solution.

To ensure a smooth adoption, consider an MES that offers comprehensive training and support resources. This includes online tutorials, customer service teams, and user manuals to help your employees get up to speed quickly. The right MES provider should be able to support your team as they learn the system and address any issues that arise during and after implementation.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

The initial cost of the MES is just one piece of the puzzle. When comparing options, consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). This includes ongoing expenses like maintenance, software upgrades, system monitoring, and user training. You should also factor in the costs of any customization or integration efforts required to tailor the system to your specific needs.

Cloud-Based vs. On-Premise Solutions

MES solutions generally fall into two categories: cloud-based and on-premise.

Cloud-based MES solutions tend to be more affordable, as they don’t require significant upfront investment in infrastructure or IT resources. They also offer the flexibility of remote access, making it easier for manufacturers with multiple locations or teams to stay connected.

On the other hand, an on-premise MES might provide more control over data security and system management, though it typically requires more resources for setup, maintenance, and updates. 

Weigh the pros and cons of each option based on your specific needs, resources, and long-term goals to decide which option is better for you. 

Vendor Support and Reputation

The reliability and responsiveness of the vendor’s support team are critical in ensuring your MES functions smoothly over time. 

Evaluate the vendor's reputation for providing robust customer service, especially when it comes to system upgrades, troubleshooting, and addressing any issues. Look for case studies, reviews, and feedback from businesses similar to yours. 

Vendor Expertise

When selecting an MES, it’s crucial to prioritize vendors with expertise specific to your industry or sector. A vendor with deep knowledge of your manufacturing processes, regulatory requirements, and market dynamics can offer tailored solutions that meet your unique needs.

For example, if you operate in highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, or medical devices, a vendor with experience in these sectors can provide an MES that supports industry-specific compliance standards and quality control protocols. They will understand the complexities of your workflows and can offer best practices to ensure your operations are efficient and compliant.

Additionally, vendors with sector expertise are more likely to provide pre-configured templates, specialized modules, and customer support that is in tune with the challenges faced in your specific industry. This minimizes the need for extensive customization and accelerates the time to value.

Final Thoughts: Core MES Capabilities For Small to Mid-Sized Manufacturing Businesses

While MES solutions have traditionally been used by large manufacturers, the trend is shifting, with small to mid-sized manufacturers increasingly adopting these systems.

However, making sure your MES has the right features and that it is scalable, flexible, and easy to implement and use,  is crucial to maximizing the value of this tool and achieving optimal results, which include improved production efficiency, enhanced product quality, streamlined compliance processes, and better decision-making through real-time data insights.

If you're looking for an all-in-one solution that integrates inventory management with powerful MES capabilities, Cin7 is a great choice. In addition to giving you end-to-end visibility into your inventory, our highly-rated platform also includes an advanced manufacturing module that, among many other capabilities, enables you to create production BOMs, manage production resources and costs, establish work centers and bins, and optimize shop floors and logistics paths. 

Request a free demo of Cin7 today to discover how our platform can help you streamline manufacturing execution.