Manufacturing Execution & Operations Management Automation - Make or Buy

ABSTRACT

The core value of automation for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), or Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM), is to enable on-time delivery of a quality product at the lowest cost. This value is a competitive necessity shared by all electronics manufacturers and as a result, many companies have taken and or now taking the challenge to deploy automation for this purpose. Very often, the decision to shift to MES or MOM automation is accompanied by considerable management debate over whether to invest upfront capital into a thirdparty software solution, or have the organization’s highly skilled employees put time and effort into the development of an internal software. This is the first cycle of the “make or buy” conflict. Management faces a tough decision here, as critical business factors such as capital expenditure and dedication of human resources come into sharp focus and discussion. In this document, we review the advantages and disadvantages of making or purchasing a MES or MOM automation solution.