How EZ-MES connects to your ERP system: a limited, well-defined set of integration points, with EZ-BRM as the integration layer.
Approach
When integrating ERP and MES, Workfloor follows a simple and proven principle: treat the MES as a black box with a limited, well-defined set of integration points.
This approach minimizes complexity, reduces coupling between systems, and makes integrations easier to maintain and evolve over time.
In this example, we describe a typical integration between EZ-MES and Microsoft Business Central (BC), using EZ-BRM as the integration layer.
Integration layer
e.g. Business Central
Item masters (part definitions)
Production orders
Material receipts
API integration layer
Controlled API calls
Business logic & rules
Execution core
Execution status
Completion notifications
Estimated completion
Inventory quantities
Financials & accounting
Master data
Using Business Central as an example, the ERP system is responsible for defining and owning the commercial and financial master data. Through EZ-BRM APIs, Business Central can provide the following information to EZ-MES:
Definitions for incoming materials, raw inventory, and finished goods.
Sent to MES as Work Orders, triggering production flows for Raw Material Inventory (RMI) or Finished Goods Inventory (FGI).
When ordered materials are received in ERP, corresponding inventory items are created in MES based on the part definitions.
In this model, Business Central remains the system of record for part definitions, BOMs, and production orders.
Execution data
While ERP plans and finances production, MES executes it. EZ-MES provides real-time and historical execution data back to ERP through EZ-BRM APIs. This includes:
ERP can request updates at any time, or receive them on a scheduled basis (for example, daily).
Progress updates and estimated completion per item on a Work Order.
MES notifies ERP when items on a Work Order are finished.
Once completion is reported, Business Central performs material backflushing based on the BOM, ensuring accurate financial accounting.
Ownership
In this integration model:
At regular intervals, inventory reconciliation is performed to keep ERP and MES aligned. EZ-MES provides dedicated APIs to retrieve current material quantities, ensuring both systems stay synchronized.
Manufacturing details
Certain manufacturing details are intentionally managed in MES rather than ERP:
Business Central routings are not required. Production flow is defined in MES using Flow Definitions, which consist of detailed Step Definitions. MES steps provide a much higher level of operational granularity than typical top-down ERP systems.
Serialization of parts and lots is fully handled by MES, where real-time execution and traceability are required.
The result
By clearly separating planning and financial control (ERP) from execution and traceability (MES), this integration approach delivers:
This makes Workfloor and EZ-MES easy to integrate into existing ERP landscapes, without forcing ERP systems to manage shop-floor complexity.
