MES - Manufacturing Execution System:

Depending upon who one talks to, Manufacturing Execution Systems comprise a wide range of applications. Generally speaking, if:

The system is used on the shop floor;

Is used for non accounting purposes (that is the ERP niche);

Is not used to directly control equipment (that is the SCADA niche)

Is probably owned by the operations group (not Engineering or IT)

Then it is probably a MES application, although one could probably argue the last three criteria.

The following applications have been classified as MES:

Statistical Process Control;

Overall Equipment Effectiveness;

Laboratory Information Management Systems

Defect Evaluation and recording systems

Scheduling and capacity planning systems

HACCP

Bar code and RFID

Quality Management Systems

Health and Safety Systems