Cengiz Özemli
Academic
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What is Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM)?
In the manufacturing sector, MOM refers to the software that plans, executes, and records a facility's production. This software covers areas such as scheduling, execution (MES), quality, and performance.
Why an Integrated MOM Suite?
Many facilities manage these activities in separate systems. However, information exchange in isolated systems can be fragmented. For example, if a machine breaks down, the production schedule can easily be disrupted and become outdated. There are some key elements to consider when choosing a high-performance MOM suite.
5 Questions to Ask When Choosing an Effective MOM Suite:
1. Does the Schedule Automatically Update When a Machine Stops?
- The scheduling system should trigger or support rescheduling using updates from the shop floor.
- Downtime, work-in-progress (WIP), and other shop floor changes should flow from the execution system to the scheduling system, and the revised schedule should flow back to the shop floor.
- Good rescheduling should minimize disruptions to the current schedule, so staged materials, crew assignments, and supplier sequencing should remain in place.
2. Do Planning and Production Use the Same Data?
- Planning and production should have timely access to consistent data.
- A shared data model can reduce transfers between scheduling and execution, while separate systems require reliable interfaces to keep information aligned.
- Ask the vendor to demonstrate where the schedule reads WIP and downtime, how often this information is updated, and how exceptions are handled.
3. Can You Measure People and Machines Separately (OLE and OEE) at Each Facility?
- The software should set independent standards for labor and machines and monitor Real-Time Overall Labor Effectiveness (OLE) and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) against these standards.
- While OEE shows the performance of machines, OLE shows where labor time is going. This is important in cases where one operator covers multiple machines or a team moves between jobs during a shift.
- For multi-facility operations, check for:
Common Definitions: Each metric uses consistent, documented calculation rules across every facility.
- Downtime Tracking: Every stoppage is recorded with a reason code as it occurs.
- Root Cause: Downtime and quality events can be traced back to the relevant machine, shift, material lot, and operator.
4. How Many Connections Does It Take to Link ERP and PLM?
- A single integration point is much easier to maintain than a separate integration per system. Every extra connection is another interface to test with every upgrade and another place where data can become misaligned.
- The international reference for integrating enterprise systems with manufacturing operations is the ISA-95 standard, which provides models and terminology.
- Ask vendors which ISA-95 models and interface concepts their integrations use, what information is exchanged, and what additional interfaces or mappings are required.
5. Are Electronic Signatures, Audit Trails, and Cybersecurity Part of the System, or Are They Add-ons You Validate Separately?
- Look for these controls within the system, with clear documentation on how they are configured, tested, and maintained.
- Separate modules or integrations can add validation and maintenance work, so ask what needs to be re-checked after an upgrade.
- This is especially important in regulated facilities. For medical device manufacturers, 21 CFR Part 11 sets the FDA's requirements for electronic records and signatures.
- Aerospace and defense suppliers often carry contractual cybersecurity requirements, and semiconductor fabs run equipment networks that need the same access discipline.
Using These Questions in MOM Vendor Evaluation:
Turn each question into a scenario-based demo on your own data: "Stop Machine 3 and show us the schedule." "Show OLE and OEE for the same shift." "Trace this lot back to its operator and machine." Run the same scenario with every vendor so the results are directly comparable.
Then, check for scalability across your facilities, the implementation support offered, and references from manufacturers like you.
