MES

Effective AI in manufacturing depends on a strong MES foundation with live, contextual production data rather than a chatbot layered over dashboards.

If you had to build your manufacturing execution platform from scratch today, unconstrained by what you inherited, what would you build?

If you had to build your manufacturing execution platform from scratch today, unconstrained by what you inherited, what would you build?

SAP has confirmed that mainstream maintenance for ME and MII ends in December 2027. Extended support, at a premium, runs until 2030. There is no upgrade path to SAP Digital Manufacturing. The transition is a full reimplementation on a new platform, regardless of destination. You cannot plan a reimplementation of something you cannot inventory. 

Moving away from SAP ME isn’t just a software upgrade. Discover the hidden architecture, custom code, and dependencies that make migration complex.

You can vibe code an app. The question is whether you can (or should) vibe code a full MES, and the answer has less to do with how good the code generator is than with what an MES actually is.

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are foundational to modern high-tech manufacturing. For manufacturers operating in domains supported by Critical Manufacturing MES, including semiconductors, electronics, medical devices, and industrial equipment, implementation is not simply an IT rollout.

Isabel Lopes, Business Developer Manager at Critical Manufacturing, cuts through the AI hype with a powerful reminder: Digital transformation doesn’t start with algorithms— it starts with architecture. For manufacturers looking to stay resilient, traceable, and competitive in volatile global markets, the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) must evolve from back-office software to strategic infrastructure.

Imagine asking your manufacturing data a question the same way you would ask a colleague: “What happened during the night shift that I need to know about?”