The MES is the operational backbone of any factory…and it requires a LOT of effort to configure, maintain, and consistently use in day-to-day operations. But manufacturers want more from their MES than just a certificate to hang on the wall showing they’ve complied with an industry quality standard. In the first part of this five-part series, we reframe the MES as a tool that can help move a manufacturer’s business forward – not just operationally, but also to speed business-impacting decisions and provide advance warning of problems ahead.