This article is written by Chuck Werner,  Manager of Operational Excellence at Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center - part of the MEP National Network, and originally published in IndustryWeek.

Smart Manufacturing is the manufacturing of the future, and, at its core, works to save time, money, and resources. One valuable tool in the move toward Smart or Smart(er) Manufacturing is the implementation of a manufacturing execution system. A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is an automated system that utilizes real-time data to assist you in measuring how your production equates with financial performance.