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SimpleMES

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What SimpleMES is

SimpleMES is an open-source Manufacturing Execution System for controlling and tracking shop-floor work. Its core covers products, routings, work centers, orders, and lot or serial numbers. Production records can capture what was built, who built it, when and where it was made, the components used, defects, and configurable data collected at key points. The Assembly module supports bills of material, component tracking, and manual or scanner-based assembly. Assembly reports can help identify components used in shipped products during recall investigations.

The system is designed for operators, supervisors, and managers, and its documentation describes it as useful by itself in many small to medium shops. An ERP system is optional, and ERP and non-ERP orders can be mixed. SimpleMES can also interface with shop-floor automation systems when needed. Deployment choices described in the guide include cloud, self-hosted cloud, and internal installations, using a WAR file or Docker image. Custom fields, flexible data collection, scripted logic, and optional modules support configuration. The project is licensed under GPL-3.0 and is described as pre-release. It does not include a costing module, though production logs can provide data for cost estimates.

Who it suits

SimpleMES suits manufacturing operators, supervisors, and managers who need to track orders, production activity, components, and defects. Its documentation presents it as useful on its own in many small to medium shops, with or without an ERP system.

What it does well

Tracks work orders and lot or serial numbers.
Records production details, components, and defects.
Supports manual or scanner-based component assembly.
Can be deployed in cloud or internal environments.
Custom fields and scripted logic support configuration.

What to know first

The project is described as pre-release.
It does not currently include a costing module.
Its demo database is periodically purged.

Limits

SimpleMES has no costing module, although production history can provide data for cost estimates. The project is described as pre-release, and the demo database is periodically purged.

Getting started

Open the SimpleMES project website and documentation.
Choose a cloud, self-hosted cloud, or internal deployment.
Deploy using a WAR file or Docker image.
For the executable JAR, use a Java 9+ environment.
Configure products, routings, work centers, orders, and tracking fields.

Verdict

Choose SimpleMES if you need an open-source system to track shop-floor activity, production details, and component traceability, with ERP use optional. Look elsewhere if you require a built-in costing module or need a release described as beyond pre-release.

Questions

Is SimpleMES free and open source?

Yes. It is listed as free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.

Does SimpleMES require an ERP system?

No. It can be used with or without ERP, and ERP and non-ERP orders can be mixed.

What deployment options are described?

The guide describes cloud, self-hosted cloud, and internal deployment, using a WAR file or Docker image.

Does it support lot and serial traceability?

Yes. Lot and serial tracking are listed, and the core includes lot or serial number tracking.

Does SimpleMES include costing?

It does not currently support a costing module. Production history can provide data for cost estimates.

What is the project's release status?

The repository describes the framework as being in a pre-release state.

Facts from SimpleMES's own pages

API: The documentation identifies some services as Stable APIs and says developers aim to retain backward compatibility while acknowledging breaking changes are possible. · simplemes.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Assembly: The assembly module supports scanning components and defining the bill of materials needed to build a product. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Core capabilities: The core module covers products, routings, work centers, customer orders, and lot or serial numbers. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Customization: The documentation describes custom fields, flexible data collection fields, scripted logic, and optional modules for customization. · simplemes.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Demo: The guide describes a demo server whose database is periodically purged. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
ERP and automation: An ERP system or shop floor automation system is not required, and the guide says SimpleMES may interface with automation systems if needed. · simplemes.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
ERP use: SimpleMES can be used with or without an ERP system, and the guide says ERP and non-ERP orders can be mixed. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Hosting: The project describes cloud, self-hosted cloud, and internal deployment as hosting options. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Integration limits: The guide says an ERP system and shop-floor automation system are not required, and describes automation systems as separate software that an MES may interface with if needed. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Intended users: The guide describes operators, supervisors, and managers as the shop-floor users of an MES. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Known limitation: The guide says SimpleMES does not currently support a costing module, though production history can provide data for cost estimates. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
License: The GitHub repository lists the project under the GPL-3.0 license. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Notable limitation: The guide says SimpleMES does not currently support a costing module, though production logs can provide data for estimating costs. · simplemes.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Product: SimpleMES is an open-source manufacturing execution system for controlling and tracking shop-floor work. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Production data: SimpleMES can record what and who built a product, when and where it was built, components used, defects, and configurable data collected at key points. · simplemes.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Production tracking: SimpleMES can record what was built, who built it, when and where it was built, components used, defects, and configurable production data. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Project maturity: The repository describes the framework as being in a pre-release state. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Release status: The GitHub repository describes the framework as being in a pre-release state. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Runtime: The repository says its executable JAR can run in a Java 9+ environment and warns against using the development configuration in production. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Security: MES Core uses framework-provided security roles, and its controllers enforce the appropriate role. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Setup and customization: The project emphasizes minimal setup, easy configuration, and easy customization. · simplemes.github.io, 10 Oct 2026
Traceability: Assembly reports can identify components used in shipped products to help investigate product recalls. · simplemes.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
What it does: SimpleMES is an open source Manufacturing Execution System designed to control and track shop floor activity. · simplemes.github.io, 9 Oct 2026

Where SimpleMES stands on Freedom251

Manufacturing Execution Systems#3 of 32