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Rockwell Automation Sets a New Standard in Manufacturing with Elastic MES Solutions

Rockwell Automation, Inc., the largest name in the field of industrial automation and digital transformation, recently announced innovative advancements to its Manufacturing Execution System (MES) portfolio, emphasizing flexibility, scalability, and resilience.

Cloud-Native Innovation

This new generation of MES solutions operates on a cloud-native, compliant platform aimed at unifying operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). The flexible, modular approach of Rockwell’s elastic MES not only speeds up value generation but also simplifies operations, allowing manufacturers to scale their production capacities on demand while advancing towards truly autonomous manufacturing processes.

Traditional MES systems often function in isolated silos, which limits transparency across OT and IT. According to the annual report on the state of smart manufacturing in 2025, 21% of manufacturing executives identified integration challenges as the main internal barrier to efficiency. The introduction of Rockwell’s elastic MES aims to remove these barriers with a single unified platform that spans the entire manufacturing lifecycle—from materials and inventories to production and tooling. With built-in analytics, AI-driven insights, and connected worker technologies, manufacturers benefit from agile, transparent, and optimized production processes.

Industry Expert Insights

As noted by Lorenzo Veronesi, Vice President at IDC, “Legacy MES systems were foundational but have become hurdles for agility in a rapidly changing world. The future is in modern, flexible, and scalable MES platforms that allow manufacturers to reconfigure processes as needed, integrating seamlessly across the digital thread to accelerate innovation.” This shift represents a critical leap toward adaptable and future-ready operations in the manufacturing sector.

Anthony Murphy, Vice President of Product Management at Rockwell Automation, commented on the significance of their elastic MES strategies. He stated, “Disparate, homemade systems increase costs, risks, and complexity. Rockwell’s elastic MES combines critical OT and IT applications within a robust cloud-native architecture, enabling growth alongside our customers.”

Key Features of Rockwell's Elastic MES

Designed specifically for manufacturing, the elastic MES solutions provided by Rockwell encompass a range of elastic characteristics that are crucial for modern manufacturing:

• - Industry-Specific Solutions: The platform caters to discrete, hybrid, and regulated sectors, ensuring compliance, traceability, and safety.
• - Comprehensive Functionality: Built as a multi-tenant Software as a Service (SaaS) model with integrated AI technology, it supports manufacturers on their journey towards autonomous operations.
• - Seamless OT/IT Integration: Ensuring holistic transparency and increased organizational resilience through easy connectivity.
• - Designed for Extendability: A secure and stable platform that integrates with legacy systems, leveraging new technologies such as AI.
• - Robust Edge-to-Cloud Deployment: Flexible configurations ranging from pure cloud to hybrid setups to suit each site's operational needs.

Real-World Impact and Benefits

Manufacturers globally are already reaping the benefits of Rockwell’s MES solutions. A stationery manufacturer utilized Plex MES to unlock scalable functionalities, achieving real-time visibility in production. Similarly, a baking products manufacturer automated its WIP management and significantly enhanced performance metrics across finance and operation departments using Plex MES. Furthermore, a pharmaceutical developer adopted FactoryTalk PharmaSuite® to create a digital manufacturing core, boosting efficiency.

Rockwell’s MES portfolio provides intelligent guidance, predictive insights, and operational flexibility, helping manufacturers optimize their production lines and transition towards autonomous operations.

For more information on Rockwell Automation's elastic MES solutions, please visit the Plex website. Rockwell Automation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, connects human innovation with technological power, striving to make the world more productive and sustainable. With a global workforce of approximately 26,000 employees, Rockwell serves clients across more than 100 countries as of fiscal year 2025.