MES-based supply chain integration mechanisms to balance efficiency and innovativeness aims in manufacturing
Hämäläinen, Tuuli (2026-06-30)
30.06.2026
Tuotantotalouden DI-ohjelma - Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management
Johtamisen ja talouden tiedekunta - Faculty of Management and Business
Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2026-07-01
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202606308071
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202606308071
Tiivistelmä
Manufacturing firms face a dual challenge of achieving operational efficiency while simultaneously fostering innovativeness. This is particularly pertinent for manufacturers delivering project-based, highly tailored solutions, where customer-centric development and production must be balanced with efficiency requirements arising from high capital intensity, sustainability targets, and global competitive pressures. Traditional separation of research and development (R&D) and production functions is becoming increasingly impractical since producing highly customized solutions demand deeper cross-functional and interorganizational integration that enables faster design-execution iterations.
Supply chain digitalization, underpinned by Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies, provides tools for integrating internal functions and external partners more seamlessly, thereby streamlining processes, enhancing transparency and connectivity, and creating new opportunities for joint value creation. This thesis examines how a manufacturing execution system (MES) platform supports supply chain integration (SCI) in integrated solutions delivery and how such a platform contributes to balancing operational efficiency and innovativeness. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study with a pragmatic research approach and therefore aims to provide practical implications for supply chain management (SCM) and manufacturing operations management (MOM).
The results show that a MES platform digitalizes and structures shop-floor execution, improves integration between production, procurement, R&D, and project management, and enables enhanced visibility and real-time coordination with the external supply chain. The identified SCI mechanisms focused mostly on operational efficiency, reflecting the conventional role of MES. However, the platform functionalities created multifaceted opportunities for innovation. Contradicting the traditional assumption, they were not seen as a hindrance for efficiency, rather a synergistic benefit. These mechanisms improve integrated solutions delivery by enhancing quality, throughput time, visibility, coordination, and data-driven decision-making across production, management, supply chain, and technology levels.
Moreover, the examined MES platform may evolve into a manufacturing ecosystem by integrating additional external stakeholders, such as universities, authorities, third-party auditors, and technology partners, into its processes, thereby enhancing efficiency and innovativeness at scale. The challenges of the platform lie in how requirements for integration are fulfilled. Technological capabilities of the supply chain network need to be on an adequate level for the platform to be adopted, and sufficient support structures for implementation and maintenance need to be established to ensure the scaled impacts and longevity of the platform.
The thesis contributes to the literature on SCI, digital platforms, and integrated solutions by showing that MES platforms should not be understood merely as factory-level execution tools, but also as interorganizational integration structures with strategic relevance. Additionally, the detailed examination of MES-based SCI mechanisms contributes to filling in research gaps on the specific technological features that drive integration and shape decision-making, coordination, and learning in supply chains. The study also contributes to the discussion on organizational ambidexterity by showing how digital integration platforms can help firms balance efficiency and innovativeness in integrated solutions delivery contexts. MES platform allows for companies to build capabilities in both internal and external integration, providing a tool for efficient project delivery and opportunities for product and process innovation. It facilitates a shared understanding and coordination across engineering, production, and supply chain partners that enables distributed problem-solving and faster iterations, critical for integrated solutions delivery.
Supply chain digitalization, underpinned by Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies, provides tools for integrating internal functions and external partners more seamlessly, thereby streamlining processes, enhancing transparency and connectivity, and creating new opportunities for joint value creation. This thesis examines how a manufacturing execution system (MES) platform supports supply chain integration (SCI) in integrated solutions delivery and how such a platform contributes to balancing operational efficiency and innovativeness. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study with a pragmatic research approach and therefore aims to provide practical implications for supply chain management (SCM) and manufacturing operations management (MOM).
The results show that a MES platform digitalizes and structures shop-floor execution, improves integration between production, procurement, R&D, and project management, and enables enhanced visibility and real-time coordination with the external supply chain. The identified SCI mechanisms focused mostly on operational efficiency, reflecting the conventional role of MES. However, the platform functionalities created multifaceted opportunities for innovation. Contradicting the traditional assumption, they were not seen as a hindrance for efficiency, rather a synergistic benefit. These mechanisms improve integrated solutions delivery by enhancing quality, throughput time, visibility, coordination, and data-driven decision-making across production, management, supply chain, and technology levels.
Moreover, the examined MES platform may evolve into a manufacturing ecosystem by integrating additional external stakeholders, such as universities, authorities, third-party auditors, and technology partners, into its processes, thereby enhancing efficiency and innovativeness at scale. The challenges of the platform lie in how requirements for integration are fulfilled. Technological capabilities of the supply chain network need to be on an adequate level for the platform to be adopted, and sufficient support structures for implementation and maintenance need to be established to ensure the scaled impacts and longevity of the platform.
The thesis contributes to the literature on SCI, digital platforms, and integrated solutions by showing that MES platforms should not be understood merely as factory-level execution tools, but also as interorganizational integration structures with strategic relevance. Additionally, the detailed examination of MES-based SCI mechanisms contributes to filling in research gaps on the specific technological features that drive integration and shape decision-making, coordination, and learning in supply chains. The study also contributes to the discussion on organizational ambidexterity by showing how digital integration platforms can help firms balance efficiency and innovativeness in integrated solutions delivery contexts. MES platform allows for companies to build capabilities in both internal and external integration, providing a tool for efficient project delivery and opportunities for product and process innovation. It facilitates a shared understanding and coordination across engineering, production, and supply chain partners that enables distributed problem-solving and faster iterations, critical for integrated solutions delivery.