The Core Four MES Features

1. Overview

At the heart of MachineMetrics lies a modern Manufacturing Execution System (MES) built from the ground up on real-time machine data. Unlike legacy MES systems that rely on manual inputs and retrospective analysis, MachineMetrics captures real-time data directly from your machines, operators, and ERP—transforming it into actionable insights across every layer of your operations.

To make this real-time intelligence accessible and impactful from day one, we've focused our foundation on the Core Four MES features:

• Work Order Management

• Production Scheduling

• Downtime Tracking

• OEE Analytics

These four pillars provide the critical visibility and control manufacturers need to drive immediate improvements in productivity, efficiency, and operator engagement.

2. Why Start with the Core Four?

These features represent the foundational capabilities that all manufacturers need, regardless of industry, size, or digital maturity:

• Work Order Management connects your ERP to the shop floor, ensuring every operator and machine knows what to produce, how, and when.

• Production Scheduling aligns planned production with real-time machine capacity, allowing manufacturers to adapt to change and meet delivery deadlines.

• Downtime Tracking uncovers the hidden reasons for lost production, enabling teams to fix issues before they become systemic.

• OEE Analytics gives manufacturers a single, objective view of performance, enabling continuous improvement and investment justification.

By starting with these solutions, customers gain clarity, consistency, and measurable outcomes in a matter of weeks—not months.

3. Feature Details & Benefits

Work Order Management

Digitize job execution at the machine level. Whether data is pulled from an ERP or entered manually by operators, MM tracks every step of the job lifecycle with full traceability.

Benefits:

• Ensure alignment between planning and execution

• Capture parts made, scrap, and setup time automatically

• Increase accountability and reduce paperwork

Production Scheduling

MachineMetrics Production Schedule Intelligence builds schedules that are rooted in live data—not tribal knowledge. Our system dynamically adjusts as conditions change on the floor.

Benefits:

• Improve on-time delivery and resource utilization

• Visualize scheduling conflicts and capacity bottlenecks

• Eliminate over-reliance on static spreadsheets or whiteboards

Downtime Tracking

Downtime is detected automatically with no operator input. Categories can be assigned manually or automatically using machine signals or logic.

Benefits:

• Discover the true cost and root cause of unplanned stops

• Enable preventive maintenance and process improvement

• Prioritize high-impact issues with downtime Pareto charts

OEE Analytics

MachineMetrics calculates OEE in real time for each machine, shift, and operation—combining availability, performance, and quality into a single actionable metric.

Benefits:

• Standardize performance across the factory

• Identify top and bottom performing machines or teams

• Track the impact of process improvements or new equipment

4. Real-Time Data is the Foundation

What sets MachineMetrics apart is that real-time data is not an integration—it’s the foundation. Every feature is built to ingest, process, and act on real-time machine and shop floor data. This allows the Core Four to:

• Eliminate delays and inaccuracies in manual data collection

• Automatically capture context like alarms, cycle times, and tool changes

• Serve as a live source of truth across departments

5. Expanding Beyond the Core Four

Once the foundation is in place, customers can unlock even more value by layering on advanced modules:

• Tool Life Monitoring: Track tool usage, life, and wear trends to prevent unplanned stoppages.

• Tool Anomaly Detection: Detect deviations in spindle behavior or machine signals to catch potential tool failures early.

• AI-Powered Shift Reports (coming soon): Automatically generate intelligent shift summaries for supervisors.

• Advanced Production Analytics: Dive deeper into performance patterns, bottlenecks, and process variation.

These add-ons are modular, ensuring customers can grow their digital capabilities at a pace aligned with their goals.

6. Final Thoughts

MachineMetrics provides a fast, focused path to visibility and control. They help manufacturers:

• Understand what’s happening on the floor

• Make better decisions, faster

• Build a foundation for continuous improvement

And because everything is driven by real-time data, the insights you gain today are already preparing you for the challenges of tomorrow.

Want to see how the Core Four could transform your operations? Reach out to your Customer Success Manager or visit www.machinemetrics.com to get started.