Epicor Acquires MES Provider eFlex Systems

Epicor, a provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, is acquiring eFlex Systems, a provider of cloud-based manufacturing execution system (MES) technologies. The acquisition expands the Epicor portfolio of MES capabilities to help manufacturers increase productivity by modernizing their production environments through digital work instructions, advanced process control and real-time visibility.

“I am thrilled to bring eFlex Systems into the Epicor family! Shop floors are a complex intersection of people, machines, robots and materials, and it’s critical they work seamlessly together,” says Steve Murphy, Epicor CEO. “People will continue to be at the heart of manufacturing, and our acquisition of eFlex Systems extends our ability to give Epicor customers the information they need to improve the user experience and unlock new levels of productivity.”

The eFlex Systems Manufacturing Integrated Platform (MIP) enables manufacturers to manage and visualize global operations in real time. Connecting devices, sensors and machines with people, it helps operators build the right part with the right tool at the right setting in a safe and repeatable way, the company says. The MIP aims to assist manufacturers with solving labor challenges by simplifying tasks and extending workers with connected devices — thereby improving productivity.

Epicor customers are be able to digitize processes through operator guidance, alerts, traceability and data collection at the individual task level. Workstations can be configured and connected to their environments through open protocols and tools such as RFID, MQTT and Node-RED. This enables operators to seamlessly leverage IoT devices such as DC tooling, barcode readers, weight scales, pick lights, PLCs and others to complete the task at hand.

“We’ve always been focused at eFlex Systems on helping customers reimagine manufacturing through sustainable, world-class production processes,” says Dan McKiernan, eFlex CEO. “By joining with Epicor, we’re furthering our mission to modernize manufacturing and bridge the data gap with cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions that drive efficiencies and throughput.”