ISA Book Cover - Manufacturing Execution Systems: An Operations Management Approach Second Ed. by Seubert and Vokey
Authors, Tom Seubert and Grant Vokey, explain how the newest edition of their book, Manufacturing Execution Systems: An Operations Management Approach, Second Edition, helps MOM practitioners effectively implement and utilize manufacturing execution systems (MES).

What are some key differences between this book and the previous edition?
  • There is an expanded explanation of MOM according to ISA interpretation.
  • We added a Q&A workbook to support academic course development. Having a workbook enables independent learners to validate their knowledge.
  • We expanded the discussion in several chapters to support a more thorough understanding of the subject covered within the chapter.
You note that the future of manufacturing is those who understand and can manage MOM and MES. Is MOM/MES the standard system of the future, and how is it better than other operations methodologies?
  • First, it must be understood that MOM is the implementation of processes, data structures, and communications needed to support manufacturing operations. MES is one of the primary IT systems used to support MOM.
  • MES, ERP, and PLM have been used to support MOM for at least a decade (it’s not really new, just misunderstood). In recent years, some software suppliers have been advertising a “new system” and calling it the “MOM system.” However, most major MES providers deliver the same capabilities making the concept of a separate “MOM system” a misnomer. The chapters within the book that cover MOM clear up the confusion.
  • MOM does not try to replace other operations management methodologies; it has been developed for two reasons:
    1. To provide a sound structure for planning processes and data elements needed to manage manufacturing.
    2. To provide a methodical model of processes and data that enables operations personnel to thoroughly understand manufacturing operations. For software developers, it provides a reliable model of activities for developing the functionality that supports MOM.
Your book emphasizes the importance of understanding MOM and how it coordinates with MES. Please briefly describe how the two relate.
  • MES provides the IT functionality to manage manufacturing. It supports all the plant floor and business processes that operate at the manufacturing floor level, which is a significant part of MOM.
  • MOM provides the data structure needed to define the manufacturing environment and the activity models needed to support manufacturing operations (it also provides guidance to “what processes are needed”). MES provides the IT functionality needed to execute the defined activities within the MOM models (provides repeatable structure to the processes) and the IT-related data objects needed to support the MOM activities. MES is THE primary IT system needed to support MOM.
Who will benefit most from this book?
  • Manufacturing managers will better understand how MES systematically supports their needs.
  • Manufacturing Engineers will gain a better understanding of how to design their processes and how to obtain the most support from their MES.
  • Students of manufacturing engineering or manufacturing operations management will expand their manufacturing knowledge and gain a broader general understanding of the system requirements to support manufacturing.
  • IT staff working in a manufacturing company will gain a better understanding of the role of IT systems in supporting manufacturing and will learn the common terminology necessary for communicating with operations staff.
  • MES implementation steering committees and implementation teams will gain a structured understanding of manufacturing operations, which will help them develop implementation requirements and better understand how MES should support manufacturing operations.
Q. What key points do you want to highlight for potential readers?
  • The book breaks down MOM activities and MES functionality into logical groups of operational concerns.
  • Chapter 11 compresses a lot of information for the MES steering and implementation team that is needed before starting the MES implementation process.
  • Instructors of industrial engineering can use the book (and workbook) as a foundation for courses on manufacturing (MOM highlights) and for teaching the IT and data structures to support manufacturing in general.

About Grant Vokey

Grant Vokey, ISA Author
Grant Vokey
Grant Vokey serves as principal consultant at Vokey Consulting Inc. He possesses more than 20 years of diverse manufacturing operations experience and more than 15 years of experience integrating IT systems to the manufacturing floor.

Throughout his career, Vokey has developed a strong understanding of how manufacturing companies work and the information needed to operate at world-class levels. He has honed his knowledge and capabilities—particularly in industry best practices and in best-in-class utilization of Manufacturing Execution Systems—through continuous training and many years as a certified operations manager.

Grant is an acclaimed subject matter expert in the development of industry-leading MES applications/solutions/programs, and MES implementations in various verticals (electronics, industrial equipment, automotive, metal fabrication). To his clients and within the MES industry as a whole, he has cultivated a reputation for providing sound, practical advice and direction.

About Thomas Seubert

Thomas Seubert, ISA Author
Thomas Seubert
Thomas Seubert is Manufacturing Execution Systems Project Manager at American Axle & Manufacturing. He possesses more than: 25 years of experience with manufacturing processes and controls, 18 years of experience in IT, and 17 years of experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).

In previous positions, he has worked as an MES consultant and an MES delivery and presales manager. He’s also worked on several shop floors and MES projects going back to the year 2000, when GM and EDS were developing MES solutions.

Tom has consulted on MES solutions for the multi-tiered automotive market, as well as the aerospace, plastics, steel, tire, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

He was a keynote speaker at the 2015 Industrial Engineering and Operations Management Society International conference, which was held in Orlando, Florida, and received a Distinguished Service Award at the event. Tom earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan.

Tom helps young people and adults develop leadership skills through his involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, which in 2014 presented him with a District Award of Merit.