How MES rollouts work

1) Start with a narrow, high-leverage scope

Pick one line or one critical workflow where mistakes are costly (quality escapes, rework, compliance evidence, traceability, dispatch accuracy). Define “done” in operational terms: who does what step, what must be captured, what blocks progression, and what approvals are required.

2) Typical rollout phases

• Discover: map the real process (not the SOP), identify checks, handoffs, and exceptions
• Configure: build workflows, roles, fields, specs, approvals, exception paths
• Integrate: connect ERP/labels/IIoT/LIMS where needed—triggered from workflow steps
• Validate: prove the record is complete, searchable, and audit-ready for the scoped workflow
• Go-live: run production with support, iterate on friction points, lock in adoption
• Expand: repeat with a playbook to additional lines/workflows

3) Data strategy: capture once, use many times

The biggest win is reducing transcription and “shadow records”. Capture measurements in the step where they’re taken and reuse the same data for release, reporting, traceability, and investigations.

4) Adoption tactics that work

• Design for operators: few fields, clear prompts, scan-to-confirm at handoffs
• Make exceptions first-class: holds, deviations, rework, approvals
• Keep feedback loops tight: daily improvements in the first 2–4 weeks after go-live
• Measure leading indicators: completion rate, missed checks, time to find records