OpenMES Documentation
A simple guide to the free, open-source factory management system. Built for small and mid-sized manufacturers. Track production, check how well your machines work, plan orders, manage quality, and connect your equipment – all in one place.
What is OpenMES?
OpenMES is a web-based Manufacturing Execution System (MES) – a tool that connects your factory floor to your office. Instead of using spreadsheets, whiteboards, or paper, you get a digital system that collects production data as it happens.
Most MES software costs tens of thousands of dollars a year. OpenMES is free and open-source (AGPL-3.0). You can run it on your own servers or use our cloud version.
Production Tracking
Follow every work order from start to finish. See progress, batch counts, and material usage as it happens.
OEE Monitoring
See how available, fast, and accurate each production line is. OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) charts help you spot problems quickly.
Drag & Drop Scheduling
Plan production on a visual timeline. Drag tasks to reschedule. Color-coded heat-maps show when lines are too full.
Quality Control
Check incoming materials, track defects, find the most common problems, and trace any product back to its raw materials.
Warehouse & LOT Tracking
Manage stock across multiple locations. Auto-generate LOT numbers. Get alerts when stock runs low.
IoT Connectivity
Connect your machines using MQTT, Modbus, or OPC UA protocols. Send machine data straight into your OEE reports.
Three User Roles
OpenMES has three screens, one for each type of user:
| Role | Interface | Primary tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Full admin panel | Set up the system, manage users, see all reports, and define products |
| Supervisor | Oversight dashboard | Watch key numbers, review worker performance, and fix problems |
| Operator | Touch-screen queue | Start and stop batches, enter counts, log downtime, and report issues |
Documentation Chapters
Each chapter explains one part of OpenMES. You will find descriptions of every screen, setting, and real-world examples.
1. Admin Dashboard
A live overview of your factory. See key numbers, OEE gauges for each line, quality check results, and stock alerts.
2. Alerts
A timeline of warnings: production problems, limits exceeded, late orders, and system messages.
3. Production Planner
Plan work on a visual timeline. See capacity, assign workers, and manage the backlog.
4. Real-Time Monitoring
Watch each line and workstation as they run. Live OEE mini-charts update during the shift.
5. Work Orders
Manage orders from start to finish – list, details, customers, priority rules, and CSV import.
6. Products & Traceability
Your product list, bills of materials, material lots, full traceability, and supplier info.
7. Warehouses & Inventory
Track stock in multiple locations. Create stock documents, generate LOT numbers, and set low-stock alerts.
8. Reports & Analytics
OEE reports, top defect charts, production costs, order history, and material planning (MRP).
9. HR & Factory Structure
Manage workers, teams, skills, pay groups, and absences. Define your plant layout from site down to workstation.
10. Maintenance & QC
Schedule maintenance tasks, run incoming inspections, plan checks, track tools, and log problems.
11. Connectivity
Connect machines with MQTT, Modbus, or OPC UA. Use webhooks, add-on modules, and the REST API.
12. Packaging
A packing station with barcode scanning, pallet tracking, EAN codes, shipping, and shift handover.
13. Operator View
A touch-screen for factory workers – pick a line, see your order queue, and report batch results.
14. Supervisor View
A dashboard for supervisors showing key numbers, output trends, worker speed, and open issues.
15. Settings & Admin
System settings, dashboard setup, API tokens, custom fields, role-based access control, and two-factor login.
Quick Start
- Create a demo account at demo.getopenmes.com – it comes with 5 lines, 139 orders, and sample data ready to go
- Try all roles – use the demo toolbar to switch between Admin, Supervisor, and Operator
- Read the docs – start with Dashboard or pick any chapter from the sidebar