High-Visibility Manufacturing Execution System

The Fireant Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is a configurable, API-first digital platform engineered to manage real-time production data, work order execution, quality control, and shopfloor transparency from material issuance through finished goods.

It serves as the single source of truth for production schedules, machine telemetry, operator tasks, and digital work instructions. Unlike generic MES offerings designed primarily for massive automated plants, Fireant MES is optimized for manufacturers of all scales, especially those seeking agile floor control, seamless integration with PLM/ERP systems, and a user-centric experience that operators actually use.

Core Architecture Objectives

  • Single Source of Truth (SSOT)
    Consolidate disparate paper logs, Excel trackers, and whiteboards into a unified, real-time relational database.
  • Zero-Latency Floor Control
    Automate the dispatching of work orders, ensuring that engineering changes (ECOs) are reflected on the production line in real-time.
  • Cross-Functional Interoperability
    Break down silos between Production and Maintenance through "Context-Aware" UI designs, showing only the data relevant to the user's specific station or role.
  • Compliance-by-Design
    Embed ISO, SIRIM, or industry-specific quality checkpoints directly into the digital travel-sheet, making audits a byproduct of the process rather than a separate chore.

The User Ecosystem

  • Ops & Production
    Direct access to the latest approved specs and digital work instructions, reducing scrap and rework.
  • Quality Assurance
    Full traceability of lot numbers, inspection results, and non-conformance reports (NCR).
  • Plant Management
    Real-time visibility into production throughput and development bottlenecks.
  • Maintenance & Tooling
    Automated alerts and machine telemetry to ensure equipment reliability.
  • Inventory & Logistics
    Secure, real-time tracking of material consumption and work-in-progress (WIP) levels.

Why Fireant Outperforms "Off-the-Shelf" MES Systems

Manufacturers frequently struggle with traditional or generic MES systems due to:

  • Over-Complexity
    Bloated UI and confusing processes that frustrate operators and slow down adoption.
  • Poor Fit to Actual Factory Workflows
    Rigid logic that doesn't adapt to the real-world rework loops or variant structures typical in manufacturing.
  • High Cost Barriers
    Traditional MES is often economically prohibitive for mid-sized manufacturers due to high licensing and customization fees.
  • Integration Challenges
    Legacy systems rarely integrate cleanly with modern PLM or ERP tools, resulting in version drift and manual workarounds.
  • Low User Adoption
    When operators find systems confusing, they default to paper logs, creating data gaps and compliance risks.

Our Engineering Approach

At Fireant, we don’t build software for “users”. We build system architecture for engineers. Our MES architecture is centered on the harsh realities of the modern factory floor: shifting priorities, varying operator skill levels, and the need for absolute data integrity.

Design Principles

  • API-First Advantage
    Built on an Open-API Mesh, our system treats integration as a native capability, pushing production data to ERPs or pulling telemetry from machines.
  • "Just-in-Time" Modular Scalability
    Deploy the Core Execution engine first and "hot-plug" advanced modules like IoT Shop-Floor Sync or Customer Custom Workflows as your digital maturity evolves.
  • No-Code Logic Engine
    Empower Lead Engineers to define routing logic and approval hierarchies through a visual interface, changing processes in minutes, not months.
  • Human-Centric UX (The "Three-Click" Rule)
    We prioritize information density over menu depth to eliminate "shadow Excel sheets" and ensure high adoption rates on the floor.

The Fireant Impact

25%–40% Reduction in Cycle Times: Streamlined execution and automated routing through the digital thread.

Zero “Version-Error” Waste: Eliminate the costly mistake of manufacturing parts based on obsolete blueprints.

Real-time Audit Readiness: Every operator action and quality check is captured in a tamper-proof digital ledger.

The Transformation: Bridging the MES Gap

Industry Pain Point The Fireant Solution Strategic Business Impact
Data Silos & FragmentationUnified Relational Core: Single database for Products, BOMs, and Shopfloor Revisions.Single Source of Truth: Eliminates "shadow data" and ensures floor alignment.
Opaque Floor ProgressDynamic Workflows: Configurable digital lifecycles with real-time bottleneck tracking.Accelerated Time-to-Market: Reduces lead times through automated routing.
Document Version MismatchThe "Smart Vault": Strict revision control with automated watermarking.Zero-Error Manufacturing: Prevents production of obsolete designs.
System IsolationAPI-First Middleware: Bidirectional data sync between engineering and production.End-to-End Visibility: Links "Design-to-Manufacture" in one thread.
Manual Workflow FrictionAutomated Task Orchestration: Personalized dashboards and instant notifications.Operational Efficiency: Removes administrative burden from floor staff.

The “Fireant Difference” in Practice

Most off-the-shelf systems solve these problems by forcing you to change your company’s culture to fit their software. Fireant does the opposite. We look at your specific manufacturing constraints (whether it’s high-mix/low-volume production or strict regulatory oversight), and configure the MES modules to automate the exact points where your team currently feels the most “friction.”

System Architecture & Technical Foundation

The Fireant MES is engineered as a high-availability, distributed cloud-native platform. Our architecture is designed for Non-Disruptive Deployment, wrapping around your current floor processes without breaking what already works.

Structural Layering

  • Adaptive Presentation Layer
    A low-latency interface built for high-density data, featuring role-specific dashboards and mobile-first task panels.
  • Orchestration Services
    Autonomous microservices—including a Workflow Logic and Vault Controller—that communicate via a high-speed message bus.
  • Elastic Integration Layer
    A developer-first API gateway providing secure REST/GraphQL endpoints and webhook triggers for real-time events.
  • Hybrid Data Persistence
    Relational engines for complex metadata combined with immutable object stores for high-durability storage.

The Connected Factory

  • ERP/MRP Sync
    Automatic synchronization of Part Masters and Live Costing to bridge the gap between "As-Designed" and "As-Built".
  • MES & Shop Floor
    Direct injection of approved revisions into production lines to ensure controllers always pull the latest configuration.
  • CAD/PDM Sync
    Deep-linking of material and dimensional metadata directly into the shopfloor environment.
  • Quality Systems (QMS)
    Real-time linkage between Non-Conformance Reports (NCR) and specific revisions for rapid root-cause analysis.

Industrial-Grade Security

  • Granular RBAC
    Define access by "Who," "When," and "Where," restricting sensitive data to specific internal IPs.
  • AES-256 Encryption
    All technical data is encrypted both at rest and in transit.
  • Forensic Audit Trails
    An immutable ledger capturing every mouse-click and approval for 100% accountability.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    Mandatory biometrics or hardware-key verification for critical floor overrides and changes.

The Fireant "Rapid-Deploy" Implementation Framework

We follow a 6-Phase Methodology to move your shop floor from “Reactive” to “Predictive.”

Phase 1: Industrial Discovery & Process Mapping

We don’t just look at your software; we look at your shop floor and operator stations.

  • The Goal: Reverse-engineer your existing “Manual Thread,” uncovering hidden bottlenecks in production approvals and physical document routing.

  • The Output: A Digital Maturity Roadmap and a formalized schema for your digital travel-sheets and station-level routing.

Phase 2: Agile System Configuration

Leveraging the Fireant Modular Engine, we spin up your specific execution environment.

  • The Goal: Configure (not customize) the workflows, operator roles (RBAC), and specific quality release criteria for each station.

     

  • The Output: A functional prototype of your Shopfloor Vault and Execution Engine within a secure Sandbox environment.

Phase 3: The “Digital Bridge” (API Integration)

This is where Fireant’s technical DNA shines, enhancing your existing hardware and software investments.

  • The Goal: Establish bi-directional data flow, connecting the MES to your ERP for material consumption and your PLM for the latest engineering specs.

  • The Output: A synchronized ecosystem where a “Start Job” in MES automatically updates your ERP inventory and pulls the latest CAD data.

Phase 4: Data Cleansing & Migration

The “Garbage In, Garbage Out” rule is most lethal on the production line.

  • The Goal: We assist in scrubbing legacy production logs and Excel-based rework histories to ensure baseline data accuracy.

  • The Output: A clean, high-integrity migration of your active work orders into the new Relational Data Store.

Phase 5: User Empowerment & “Soft Launch”

We focus on High-Touch Training for Power Users and Low-Friction UI for shopfloor operators.

  • The Goal: Conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) using real-world manufacturing scenarios to ensure floor-side adoption.

  • The Output: A confident, trained workforce ready for the Official Go-Live without disrupting production throughput.

Phase 6: Post-Launch Optimization & Support

An MES is a living system that must evolve with your factory.

  • The Goal: Continuous performance monitoring of cycle times and “Tier-1” responsive support for mission-critical floor issues.

  • The Output: Quarterly “Enhancement Sprints” to refine shopfloor workflows based on actual operator feedback and evolving manufacturing needs.

The Fireant Timeline Advantage

We accelerate your return on investment by focusing on data integrity and API connectivity from day one.

MilestoneTraditional MESFireant MES
First Functional Module

Month 6+

Week 4-10

ERP Integration

Month 12+

Month 3-4

Full Enterprise Adoption

18–24 Months

6–8 Months

 

Investment & Scalability Roadmap

Implementation costs are structured based on your current digital maturity and the depth of integration required. At Fireant, we prioritize a “Value-First” approach, ensuring you don’t pay for features that don’t serve your immediate production goals.

Budget Tier Comparison (Estimated in MYR)

Package Tier Estimated Investment Ideal For
Starter (Core)RM 80k – RM 150kSMEs focusing on floor control and eliminating Excel chaos.
Standard (Integrated)RM 150k – RM 350kManufacturers requiring ERP/MES sync and automated workflows.
EnterpriseRM 350k+Complex operations with IoT links and cross-border portals.

Key Investment Drivers

  • Logic Complexity
    The depth of custom rules required (e.g., managing sub-assemblies, "By-Products," or strict shelf-life traceability).
  • Integration Density
    The complexity of "talking" to your specific ERP (Odoo, SAP, Oracle) and how much data needs to be bi-directionally synced.
  • Data Legacy
    The complexity and volume of historical machine telemetry, sensor logs, and shopfloor data that must be mapped into the new system. This includes the effort required to "cleanse" legacy data from manual logs and disparate IoT sources to ensure the system can accurately benchmark machine performance and historical cycle times.
  • SLA Requirements
    Custom support tiers, from standard business hours to 24/7 mission-critical response for continuous manufacturing.