Best Manufacturing Execution Software of 2026

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What is MES software?

Benefits of adopting MES software

How to choose the right type of MES software

Understanding MES market trends

Manufacturing execution system (MES) software is a tool designed to monitor, control, and optimize manufacturing processes on the shop floor. It provides businesses with real-time data on shop floor activities, supports quality control and safety management processes, and improves production management with comprehensive tracking and traceability. 

“MES software sits between your MRP system and actual production activities, accounting for bottlenecks and constraints in real time. This helps manufacturers ensure efficient production planning and inventory management, giving you the insights and control needed to enhance productivity and maintain high-quality standards,” explains software advisor, Bryan Dengler.

Our site features 220 different MES products, and in the past year alone, we've published over 942 reviews for 41 of these products. [1] The majority of user reviews come from small to midsize businesses, with 61% of reviewers having 200 or fewer employees. The largest industry represented is automotive, followed by food and beverages.

Most MES products are priced on a per-month, per-user basis and pricing models often align with MRP system pricing, with more advanced systems containing premium features typically priced higher than entry-level tools.

First-time buyers should begin evaluating software with a budget, number of users, specific use cases, and necessary integrations in mind. Be sure to consult with other stakeholders on a list of questions to help you evaluate systems based on your needs. Our manufacturing software advisors, Bryan Dengler, Adrian Cantu, and Saul Sanchez, who together have 9 years of experience helping buyers like you find the right software, share the following questions to get you started:

• Does the system provide real-time data and analytics on production performance and efficiency?

• What automation features and reporting capabilities does the product offer?

• How scalable is the solution to accommodate future growth and changes in your manufacturing processes?

• What kind of support and training is offered during and after the implementation of MES software?

With over 200 vendors on our site, choosing the right MES system can feel overwhelming. This guide will walk you through the key components of MES software and provide step-by-step advice on selecting the best solution for your manufacturing execution operations.

What is MES software?

“If you build it, they will come,” is not a quote about manufacturing, but the concept is related. MES software manages operations on the shop floor. The scope of MES can vary from scheduling a small set of critical machines to managing the entire fabricating operation for a manufacturer. In all but a handful of cases currently, the MES does not directly control a machine but rather tracks the work-in-progress on the shop floor. 

MES is a subset of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and executes the plan determined by the manufacturing resource planning (MRP) system. The functions of MES programs include compiling a bill of materials, resource management and scheduling, preparing and dispatching production orders, preparing work-in-progress (WIP) reports, and tracking production lots. Advanced systems will also have a product definition library with revision history and can report on production status to an ERP. In contrast, an MRP system sets the production schedule, determines the make versus buy list and determines inventory requirements.

The MES is responsible for scheduling and tracking each step of the production phase of a particular job. It prints out the bill of materials that the operator will require and production steps to complete at each phase. It repeats this process for each operator and each step until a particular job is complete.

MES are not usually affected by a manufacturer's mode, be it make to stock (MTS), assemble to stock (ATS), assemble to order (ATO), make to order (MTO), or engineer to order (ETO). This is because by the time the MES is invoked, the parts and schedule are already set, usually by the MRP system.

MES are generally installed on-premise, but cloud-based solutions are becoming more and more prevalent. In most businesses, one of the reasons for having a cloud-based system is the reduced initial cost for equipment. This is not necessarily true for manufacturing; if the system has just a few users then they are usually located in the same facility and it is just as easy to link them to each other as it is to give them access to the Internet. If it is a large implementation, the expense is in creating a robust network and acquiring suitable fixed and mobile workstations. 

The incremental cost difference between having a server for the software is generally minimal. Instead, the benefit of cloud-based systems is the reduced cost for system management—the servers are out of the shop floor environment, can be backed-up and replicated automatically, and do not have to be maintained by trained on-site personnel.

Benefits of adopting MES software

Increases utilization of equipment: MES software allows manufacturers to measure the actual utilization of equipment. With this knowledge, you can adjust job prices to either encourage the use of certain equipment or dissuade the use of that piece of equipment.

Better record-keeping and data analysis: MES provides records of machine use, jobs, and lots. This yields several benefits. First, there is better tracking of actual materials used, increasing accountability of material use to individual operators, which generally reduces waste. Second, should a quality problem occur, lot tracking allows tying back the issue to the individual lots instead of having to potentially recall an entire run.

Real-time WIP reporting: MES systems can report on progress on jobs and lots in real time, giving shop managers better information and allowing for modifications to the schedule to adjust for changes in productivity.

User adoption can be challenging without the proper support

One of the big issues with implementing MES is the possibility it will be rejected by the shop floor personnel. Some workers find the method and amount of information collected intrusive. This can become a contract issue in a unionized shop. The best defense is to use a phased-in implementation coupled with training that emphasizes the benefits to workers:

• Provide targeted training and hands-on support: Offer tailored training sessions focused on the specific needs of the shop floor team, and ensure that on-site support is available to guide them through real-time challenges.

• Simplify the transition with phased implementation: Introduce the MES software in stages, focusing on critical features first to avoid overwhelming the team, allowing them to adjust to new workflows gradually.

• Gather continuous feedback and make adjustments: Regularly seek input from the team on pain points and usability issues, and make necessary tweaks to the system or processes to ensure it aligns with their workflow and reduces frustration.

How to choose the right type of MES software

The first step in evaluating which MES software is right for you is to determine what type of buyer you are. Over 90% of software buyers fall into one of these three groups:

Enterprise resource planning suite buyer: These buyers value the seamless integration of data and processes that comes from having one system for all functions. For example, they would prefer a full-suite system for estimating, work-in-progress management, and accounting that can automatically turn an estimate into a budget for project management and then match invoices to project status and allocate job costs. These buyers favor complete software suites from companies such as Oracle, SAP, Sage ERP, or Microsoft Dynamics.

Departmental buyer: Specialists in one particular function, such as creating process set points, may value the feature depth of best-of-breed solutions designed for their function. These buyers may need specific functionality, such as the ability to interface with a specific computer motion control system.

Small manufacturer: Small organizations often have limited budgets and fewer IT resources and tools to dedicate to software. In many cases, they may be deciding between a new software system and a new piece of equipment. These buyers need cost-effective SMB manufacturing solutions that are easy to implement and use. Some will prefer full-suite systems, while others may just want one application, such as bill-of-materials production or shop equipment scheduling operations. 

Understanding MES market trends

Increased use of electronic documentation and devices: Not so long ago, a shop floor had stacks and stacks of operator’s manuals, procedure manuals, and material safety data sheets. Operators had clipboards and notebooks with bills of materials, work orders, and reports. More and more, however, this paper is being replaced with electronic documents. MES documentation is no exception, as most users produce electronic work orders and schedules.

Related to the increased use of electronic documentation is the use of mobile devices on the shop floor. The days of using clipboards and paper Kanban cards are quickly coming to an end. Instead, workers are using tablet computers and handheld devices to enter information directly into the MES system.

Increased integration with enterprise systems: Considering that ERP grew out of MRP and MES, it is no surprise that the integration with other systems is a continuing trend. Even standalone MES can receive data from MRP systems and inventory systems, and send information to others, such as preventive maintenance systems (which track the hours that equipment has been used) and payroll systems (which tracks how much time workers have spent on each job).

Data consolidation and visualization. MES systems can collect and consolidate information from the various production systems. Production dashboards are beginning to make their appearance in systems, giving production managers a single view to track operations in real time.

Note: The mention of applications included in this article are examples to show a feature in context and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations.

About our contributors

Author

Olivia Montgomery is an associate principal analyst at Software Advice, covering program and project management with a focus on the strategic alignment of IT and operations to optimize digital transformation. Drawing from her experience as a former IT PMO leader and her background in humanities studies, Olivia delivers data-driven insights that empower business leaders to drive business growth through projects.

Olivia’s research and analysis is informed by nearly 200,000 authentic user reviews on Software Advice and over 10,000 interactions between Software Advice software advisors and project management software buyers. Olivia also regularly analyzes market sentiment by conducting surveys of project managers and PMO leaders so she can provide the most up-to-date and helpful information to small and midsize businesses purchasing software or services.

Her expertise is featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, CIO Dive, and TechRepublic, as well as in podcasts, such as The Digital Project Manager. Recently, she presented her research on emotional intelligence (EQ) and decision-making at PMI's Global Summit conference, shedding light on the crucial role of EQ in driving project success. When she's not analyzing tech trends, you can find Olivia horseback riding or re-watching Jurassic Park.

Editor

Caroline Rousseau is a content editor at Software Advice. A former content analyst, Caroline has, for the past five years, built, written and edited research reports about technological trends, opportunities, and challenges with a SMB audience in mind. Her content has been featured in French Tier 1 media including Le Monde, L’Express and Le Figaro, among other publications. Her previous experience as a graphic designer, translator and LQA specialist in various industries converged into a skill set that allows her to create compelling content about today’s business matters. Caroline’s personal interests include literature and art and she has a passion for Albert Camus, graphic novels and drawing.

Advisors

Adrian Cantu is a software advisor. He joined Software Advice in 2022 and is based in Austin, TX.

Adrian works directly with small-business leaders to connect them with best fit software providers. He assesses the technology needs of small businesses seeking manufacturing, distribution, fleet management, and professional services software. He has a background in sales and has worked in the service industry. 

Adrian’s favorite part of being a software advisor is when the buyer sees the value in the service provided and expresses how appreciative they are.

Bryan Dengler is a senior advisor. He joined Software Advice in 2022 and is based in Austin, TX.

As part of the software advisor team, Bryan helps professionals from a wide range of industries who are seeking accounting, project management, manufacturing, learning management, and supply chain software. He provides a shortlist of personalized technology recommendations based on budget, business goals, and other specific needs. 

Bryan’s favorite part of being a software advisor is knowing he’s made a valuable difference in a buyer’s life with each advising session he holds.

Saul Sanchez is a senior advisor. He joined Software Advice in 2019 and is based in Austin, TX. 

Saul works directly with small-business leaders to connect them with best fit software providers. He assesses the technology needs of small businesses seeking a wide variety of software, including business intelligence, inventory management, manufacturing, and supply chain tools. Through one-to-one conversations, Saul provides a shortlist of potential matches. 

His favorite part of being a software advisor is experiencing a buyer’s relief when they discover how much time and energy he’s saved them by helping narrow down the list of many possible options on the market.

Source

1. Software Advice reviews data: Software Advice reviews are collected from verified users for individual software products. For this report, we analyzed reviews from August 26, 2023 to August 26, 2024. Read the complete methodology.