There’s no shortage of software in manufacturing, but MES and ERP systems are the ones that keep everything moving, on the floor and beyond. Deciding where each fits into your operations can be challenging.
In this guide, we’ll go over what MES and ERP do, how they differ, and how they complement each other. We’ll also explore how to integrate an MES with your existing ERP (with real examples, including how Azumuta’s cloud-based MES connects with the most common ERPs), and provide tips on choosing the right solution for your factory.
Let’s dive in, without resorting to clichés, and find out which system (or combination of systems) is right for your manufacturing business.
Understanding MES and ERP: A Quick Overview
Here’s a quick refresher on what each one does and where it fits in your operations:
MES
An MES handles real-time execution on the shop floor. MES tracks production as it happens, dispatching digital work instructions, logging machine data, monitoring cycle times, flagging defects, and enforcing quality checks.
It ensures operators follow the right steps and gives supervisors live insights into performance. With IoT and automation, it captures data directly from machines and sensors, offering a continuous pulse on production.
ERP
An ERP tackles business-level planning and coordination. ERP handles work order creation, materials procurement, inventory management, BOMs, supplier relationships, costing, and invoicing. It connects departments like purchasing, finance, and HR, keeping everything aligned. For example, it can trigger a new order when stock is low, generate forecasts, manage payroll, or track revenue by product line.
Think of ERP as your top-level planning hub. It figures out how much you need to produce, checks if the materials are in, and keeps tabs on costs and revenue. It’s not watching the line minute by minute, that’s MES, but it makes sure the whole business is on the same page. In short: ERP plans, MES gets it done.
Differences Between MES and ERP Systems
MES and ERP systems serve different roles in manufacturing, and understanding those differences can help clarify what each system brings to the table.
Scope & Focus
MES operates on the shop floor, guiding operators through tasks and capturing execution data in real time. ERP oversees the bigger picture, orders, inventory, purchasing, and finances.
Data & Detail
An MES like Azumuta’s collects detailed, operator-driven data, step completions, inspection results, assembly tools readings, while ERP works with summarized information like completed orders, inventory levels, and cost tracking.
Functionality
MES enforces production steps, flags issues during execution, and logs quality data. ERP manages planning and logistics: generating orders, tracking materials, and updating records once production is done.
Real-Time vs. Planning
MES reacts immediately to what happens on the floor. ERP focuses on planning and coordinating processes before and after production.
Integrations
MES integrates with operator tools and systems used on the line, such as torque tools or barcode scanners.
For instance, Azumuta’s MES integrates with Atlas Copco torque tools, automatically capturing torque values during assembly steps. This ensures critical tightening processes are properly recorded without manual input, helping manufacturers maintain full traceability and meet quality standards.
ERP connects with broader business systems like finance, CRM, and supply chain tools.
Users
MES is used by operators and supervisors; ERP by planners, buyers, accountants, and execs. Some users (like plant managers) use both.
In short, MES and ERP are built for different stages of manufacturing. Most factories use both, with MES ensuring production runs smoothly, and ERP managing everything around it. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, in fact, most manufacturers use them together because they fulfill different purposes.
How MES and ERP Work Together
MES and ERP aren’t competing tools, they complement each other by linking planning with execution. The ERP creates work orders with key details like product, quantity, and due date; the MES takes over to manage the actual production.
As work progresses, the MES sends updates back: what’s been produced, when, and with which materials. This keeps ERP records accurate without manual entry and ensures inventory is updated automatically.
Real-time data from the MES gives ERP users better visibility into production status, delays, or quality issues, helping teams react faster. Together, MES and ERP enable smarter reporting, fewer errors, and a reliable, shared view of operations from the floor to the front office.
MES vs. ERP: Which One Do You Need?
Whether you need an MES, an ERP, or both depends entirely on where your challenges are today.
Start with Your Biggest Pain Point
If you’re struggling with real-time visibility, paper-based instructions, or delayed quality feedback, an MES can bring control and structure to your production floor. If your issues lie in inventory tracking, procurement, or cross-department coordination, ERP is likely the better place to start.
Some manufacturers begin with MES to stabilize shop floor operations and add ERP as they grow. Others implement ERP first and bring in MES when they need more detail and traceability in production.
Know When It’s Time for Both
ERP and MES may seem to overlap, but each is built for a specific layer of operations. Trying to stretch one system to cover the other’s role—like using ERP for real-time execution or using MES to manage purchasing—usually leads to frustration. Most growing manufacturers eventually adopt both to cover the full scope: MES for execution, ERP for planning and administration.
Define What Matters Most
Once you know where the gaps are, list the must-have features. If your focus is shop floor control, look for MES features like digital instructions, operator guidance, and in-line quality checks. If your goal is coordination across departments, prioritize ERP tools that handle orders, materials, and finance.
Prioritize Integration
Seamless integration between MES and ERP is essential to avoid data silos and manual work. Choose systems with open APIs or pre-built connectors. For example, Azumuta integrates easily with platforms like SAP, Dynamics 365, and Odoo, ensuring production data flows smoothly into your business systems.
Consider Industry Fit and Scalability
Different sectors come with different requirements, traceability in aerospace, compliance in pharma, custom assembly in automotive. Make sure the systems you choose are a good fit for your industry and flexible enough to grow with you. That includes support for new lines, cloud access, or multiple sites.
Don’t Overlook Usability and Support
Software that’s hard to use won’t get used. Involve both shop floor and office teams when evaluating options. And beyond the product itself, consider vendor support, available integrations, and long-term ROI, not just license fees.
Bringing It All Together
Whether you choose an all-in-one suite or pair a focused MES like Azumuta with your ERP, the key is how well they work together. A connected setup aligns planning with execution—giving your factory the clarity and control it needs to scale effectively.
How to Integrate MES with Your Existing ERP System
To get the most out of using both an MES and an ERP, integration is key. The ERP typically creates work orders with product, quantity, BOM, and due dates, which are passed to the MES for execution. As production progresses, the MES sends updates back, on completions, material consumption, quality results, and timing, keeping ERP data current without manual input.
Most modern systems support integration through APIs or built-in connectors. These connections ensure that when a work order is created in ERP, it flows into the MES, and when production steps are completed, ERP gets updated instantly.
To avoid mismatches, align data fields and references (like part numbers, order IDs, routing steps). Run a pilot to validate the integration end-to-end. Set up error handling for cases like missing data or system downtime, and ensure logging is in place so issues can be resolved quickly.
Integration changes how teams work, so training is important, make sure everyone knows what’s automated and where to find accurate data. After rollout, monitor the integration and refine as needed. A well-integrated MES and ERP setup ensures real-time alignment between the shop floor and the rest of the business.
How Azumuta Seamlessly Integrates ERP
Azumuta connects directly with external ERP software for seamless data exchange, using its open REST API and event-driven triggers.
This allows production data to flow between Azumuta and your ERP in real time, for example, new orders from the ERP can automatically create corresponding jobs in Azumuta.
Likewise, Azumuta can push updates back to the ERP (this happens through webhooks) when an operator completes a task, so both systems stay perfectly in sync. Azumuta’s flexible approach works with common ERP platforms like Epicor, Odoo, and SAP, meaning it can fit into your existing IT ecosystem with minimal effort and no need for manual data transfer.
- Real-Time Sync: Integration enables “real-time data synchronization” between Azumuta and the ERP, keeping information (orders, inventory, statuses) up-to-date in both places.No
- Manual Work: Key data (like production orders) is shared automatically, so you avoid tedious double entry and reduce the chance of errors
- Streamlined Workflows: By linking Azumuta’s digital work instructions and shop-floor data with ERP records, you “ensur[e] accurate product traceability and streamlined workflows” across systems.
Need a Custom Integration?
Let us know your unique integration needs and Azumuta will help you find the perfect solution.
Azumuta without MES Strategy
Not every manufacturer is actively looking for a full MES but many still face challenges that traditional MES platforms are meant to solve. That’s where Azumuta fits in. It doesn’t require a complete MES overhaul to deliver value on the shop floor. For companies simply looking to replace paper instructions, improve traceability, or gain better oversight of operator tasks, Azumuta offers a focused, modular solution.
At its core, Azumuta is built around people. It supports operators with clear, digital work instructions tailored to each product or variant, and guides them step by step through the job. Every action, for examples torque value entries or scanned components, is logged in real time, creating full traceability without extra admin work.
As a digital traveler, Azumuta follows each product through production, recording who did what, when, and how. Engineers and supervisors gain live visibility into progress and can manage instructions, audits, and quality flows, all from a single interface.
Whether you’re rolling out a full MES strategy or simply aiming to make shop floor execution more reliable, Azumuta offers a practical way to get started: operator-centric, scalable, and ready to integrate.
