According to SMS group, the Manufacturing Execution Suite, or MES 4.0, replaces a legacy system developed in-house by Nucor.

“With the MES 4.0 system, Nucor can now improve its production planning with a comprehensive modular planning system, comprising state-of-the-art technology components such as the technical order generator, capacity planner, production sequencer, short-term scheduling, quality manager, and production controller,” SMS group said in a statement. 

“In addition to MES 4.0, SMS also offers a business intelligence manager to optimize business analysis and reporting for better evaluation of the company’s productivity and key performance indicators.”

The upgrade came as part of Nucor’s modernization of the entire facility. Work included a new electric arc furnace and caster and hot mill upgrades. A new pickling and galvanizing line also went on-line in 2020. 

“The MES production planning system gives Nucor better transparency,” said Katja Windt, SMS group’s chief digitalization officer. "A true team partnership between Nucor's IT team, SMS and all third parties involved has created a fully integrated system that will also enable significant savings of valuable resources in production processes in the future.”