Equipment management in MES

Definition

Equipment management in MES covers machines, tools, fixtures, and other technical assets required for production.
It ensures complete management, allocation, and monitoring of these resources, contributing directly to equipment availability and product quality.
According to VDI 5600, equipment management is one of the core MES functions.

Purpose and Significance

The goal is the safe, efficient, and quality-compliant use of all production equipment.
MES ensures that machines and tools are available, maintained, and properly assigned.
This minimizes downtime, reduces setup times, and enables proactive maintenance.

Key Tasks

• Managing master data for machines, tools, and production equipment

• Monitoring lifetimes, cycles, and maintenance intervals

• Assigning tools and fixtures to orders, lines, and machines

• Automatically recording alarms, breakdowns, and maintenance needs

• Supporting preventive and condition-based maintenance

• Integrating with spare parts and maintenance planning systems

Practical Benefits

• Higher equipment availability: through preventive maintenance and monitoring

• Reduced downtime: via timely tool changes and planned maintenance

• Improved quality: by using approved and calibrated tools

• Greater transparency: on tool usage, wear, and life cycles

• Lower costs: due to optimized maintenance processes

Example from Manufacturing Practice

An automotive supplier integrates tool management into the MES.
Tool lifetimes and maintenance intervals are automatically tracked and monitored.
Result: 18 % fewer unplanned downtimes, stable quality, and fully predictable maintenance schedules.

Integration with Other MES Functions

Equipment management interacts closely with:

• Data collection (BDE/MDE): provides machine condition and usage data

• Scheduling and dispatching: considers tool availability and maintenance windows

• Quality management: checks tool approval and calibration status

• Information management: supplies maintenance and utilization KPIs

Conclusion

MES equipment management increases transparency and efficiency in handling machines and tools.
It forms the foundation for high equipment availability, stable processes, and sustainable product quality.