Editor's Choice


What is MESA and why should you care?

September 2015 Editor's Choice News

MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association) International is a global community of manufacturers, producers, industry leaders, and solution providers who are focused on driving business results from manufacturing information.

Gerhard Greef
Gerhard Greef

One of the ways that MESA contributes to improving both business results and production operations is by creating guidebooks, white papers and other original research. Most of these materials focus on business strategies, best practice processes to achieve strategic objectives and the use of enterprise solutions to support processes and metrics in order to accelerate business success. MESA’s research differs in that it reaches from enterprise concepts down to the real-time production process. The research is done by consultants, software vendors, systems integrators and manufacturers/producers and reviewed and ratified by industry peers globally before publishing.

MESA has also developed a Global Education Program that teaches standards, concepts, models and best practices used throughout the full life-cycle of a manufacturing improvement initiative. Being certified as being competent in Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) is one of the pre-requisites of being classified as a MESA-Recognised Practitioner. MESA-Recognised Businesses need to have a number of Recognised Practitioners to be classified as such. The MESA recognition programme was established by MESA to ensure that educated buyers and sellers can recognise each other, define and deliver solutions faster and reduce risk, costs and time-to-value.

This year is the seventh year of the local MESA Southern Africa conference. Over the past seven years delegates were exposed to a number of MES/MOM case-studies, thought-leadership presentations, motivational talks and panel-discussions. There have also been a number of Special Interest Group events over the years in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and North-West Province.

MESA Southern Africa events are where manufacturers and producers are exposed to different technologies, implementation companies, solution providers and peers in a technology agnostic environment. The events showcase how companies approached their improvement initiatives, what results they achieved and how they would do it differently if they could start over.

To be an official MESA International member carries a cost, but the local MESA Southern Africa membership is free. To be added to the MESA Southern Africa membership list, please send a mail with your name and contact details to [email protected].

The conference theme for MESA Southern Africa this year is '50 Shades of MOM' This theme emphasises:

• The various ways in which Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) can be implemented.

• The various functions/components that form part of the MOM scope of supply (that change from industry to industry depending on legal, environmental, market, process, regulation, customer and business requirements).

• The various ways in which the concept of MOM is being interpreted and defined by users and vendors.

• The either beautiful or ugly results of a MOM implementation.

• The human acceptance or rejection of the MOM initiative.

It also opens the discussion regarding different or 'new' perspectives to information systems that include the use of 'Big Data', 'Machine to Machine communications', 'Machine Learning', 'Data Analytics', 'Predictive Analytics', 'Pattern Recognition', 'Model-based Monitoring and Simulation' and the 'Internet of Things'.

The 2015 Conference call for papers is currently open and as is custom with the annual MESA SA conference, all presentations will be rated by the delegates attending. This year, the presenter of the best technical presentation/case study will be given the option of either:

• Attending and/or presenting at the MESA America or MESA EMEA conference in USA or Europe (flights and accommodation provided by MESA SA), or

• Registration to a MESA Certificate of Competence course in South Africa (Attendance, flight and accommodation provided by MESA SA).

Response to the call for papers can be sent to [email protected].

For more information on MESA International, MESA Southern Africa, MESA Global Education Program, the 2015 MESA SA Conference or the MESA SA call for papers please send a mail to [email protected]



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

The future of industrial automation: fieldbus and industrial networking
LAPP Southern Africa Editor's Choice
As a global leader in integrated solutions in the field of cable and connection technology, LAPP recognises that fieldbus and industrial networking technologies are pivotal in shaping the future of manufacturing and production processes.

Read more...
AI-driven innovations with CCTV and cyber security
RJ Connect Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The fast progress of artificial intelligence (AI) and video analytics is redefining the rail surveillance landscape. Advancements have bolstered proactive event detection, predictive maintenance and enhanced situational awareness.

Read more...
Loop signature 27: SWAG tuning of simple integrating processes.
Editor's Choice
The chief control engineer of one of the largest petrochemical refineries in South Africa once sent me an email after a course at his plant. He wrote that he had found the section on SWAG tuning of simple integrating processes one of the most informative of the whole course.

Read more...
Harnessing industrial AI agents for reliable automation
Editor's Choice IT in Manufacturing
The excitement around generative AI (GenAI) has been undeniable, promising wide-ranging changes across industries. However, for those of us in the world of industrial control and automation, the realities of implementing these powerful technologies are a little more nuanced.

Read more...
Futureproof your industrial network security with OT-centric cyber security
RJ Connect Editor's Choice
To achieve digital transformation, industrial operators must first address the daunting task of merging their information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) infrastructure. In this article, we focus on the importance of strong OT network security and provide some tips on how to strengthen cybersecurity for industrial operations.

Read more...
The symbiotic relationship between OEMs and SIs
Schneider Electric South Africa Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
While businesses tend to turn directly to original equipment manufacturers OEMs or vendors when embarking on IT projects, the role of the SI as a key facilitator and partner cannot be overstated.

Read more...
Case History 196: Unstable condensate level control.
Michael Brown Control Engineering Editor's Choice Level Measurement & Control
The operators in a petrochemical refinery were having great trouble in trying to stabilise the condensate level in a vessel, and this was adversely affecting other loops downstream. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to retune the controller.

Read more...
Big themes for 2025
Editor's Choice News
2024 was a year of unprecedented innovation and global upheaval. As we look ahead, Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute asks which technologies will reshape our world in 2025?

Read more...
Loop signature: Tuning part 4 processes
Michael Brown Control Engineering Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The purpose of this particular article is to try and give those unfortunate enough to have to use SWAG (scientific wild ass guess) tuning a bit of an idea of how to go about it, and even more importantly some understanding of a couple of basic principles.

Read more...
EtherCAT and PC-based control elevate next-generation laser cutting machine
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice
Cincinnati Incorporated has been building sheet metal processing equipment for 125 years. Since the switch to PC-based control, the only limits to development have been physical.

Read more...