Cloud to drive next-gen automation systems
6 Jul 2016
The adoption of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) within the process industries is set to grow 16.86% over the next four years, according to a new report from Research and Markets.
A computerised MES is used to track and document the transformation of raw materials to finished goods, and the rise of cloud-based deployments within process industries are helping to drive their popularity, said the researcher.
According to the report, a key growth driver is the shift towards paperless production.
As process industries move towards lean manufacturing, benefits of MES can include a reduction in cost in terms of wastage, rework, and defects, the researcher said.
“The overall manufacturing system also becomes highly efficient when MES is integrated with Warehouse Management System (WMS), facilitating lean manufacturing to a large extent.”
One challenge that could hamper market growth, however, is that MES requires high capital expenditure for installation and regular upgrades, integration, and support.
“The growing demand for product quality and reduction of operational expenditure require large investments to integrate MES into existing systems, which are less compatible, and takes a long time to execute,” the researcher said.
This is especially problematic for SMEs operating in process industries, where budget constraints limit funds for an initial investment for an MES.
“Cloud-based MES-as-a-service is likely to be the next logical step in the evolution of automation technology in process industries,” it said.
“End-users are becoming more comfortable with the concept of service-based technology architecture such as cloud. This can significantly help them to reduce costs, achieve greater flexibility, and enhance functionality.”
As a result of each these factors, the researcher forecasts that the global MES market within the process industries will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 16.86% during the period 2016-2020.
