FactoryFour vs Epicor Advanced MES

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Our analysts compared FactoryFour vs Epicor Advanced MES based on data from our 400+ point analysis of MES Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Epicor Advanced MES Software Tool

Product Basics

FactoryFour is a cloud-based system designed to configure and analyze operations and scale production. It identifies bottlenecks across processes and balances resources throughout work centers for optimum resource utilization. It maintains a master schedule visible to project managers, operators and salespeople to simplify communication.

Real-time alerting helps users respond quickly to production issues and alerts key stakeholders through customized emails or SMSs. It ensures operators’ productivity with responsive, Kanban-style dashboards.
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Epicor Advanced MES uses Industry 4.0 tech to increase efficiency in production and performance. The on-site or cloud-support solution gathers live data automatically from operators and equipment. It removes the need for manual data collection and provides manufacturers with a seamless option for streamlining operations and production efficiency.

Real-time analysis allows users to catch exceptions early, cut down on waste and increase quality. The platform utilizes open connectivity protocol, programmable logic controllers, machine interface units and PC interfaces for added usability.
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$45 Monthly
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$399/Feature, Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
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Android
Chromebook
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Android
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Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Gain Visibility: Gain real-time visibility into production processes through visual dashboards. It helps to identify and resolve issues quickly to ensure smooth performance. 
  • Optimize Operations: Identify the root cause of problems, create alerts to resolve issues and analyze production bottlenecks to optimize operations. 
  • Enable Accurate Costing: Get an accurate picture of total costs, including labor utilization to make pricing, production and investment decisions. 
  • Obtain Marginal Costs: Price products and services precisely by gauging every component of production processes to derive marginal costs. 
  • Simplify Communication: Simplify communication across salespeople, project managers and operators with the aid of a master schedule. It facilitates collaboration and mitigates errors. 
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  • Increased Efficiency: Epicor Advanced MES automates the monitoring of manufacturing processes, reducing manual data entry and errors, leading to a more efficient production line.
  • Real-Time Visibility: Provides instant access to critical production data, enabling managers to make informed decisions quickly and respond to issues before they escalate.
  • Cost Reduction: By optimizing production processes and reducing waste, Epicor Advanced MES helps lower operational costs and improve profit margins.
  • Quality Improvement: Enhances product quality by closely monitoring production standards and automatically flagging deviations, ensuring consistent output that meets customer expectations.
  • Scalability: Adapts to the growing needs of a business, whether it's expanding product lines, increasing production volume, or incorporating new technologies.
  • Compliance Management: Simplifies compliance with industry regulations by providing tools for documentation, audit trails, and quality control, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates better communication and collaboration across departments by providing a centralized platform for sharing production data and insights.
  • Downtime Reduction: Predictive maintenance features help anticipate equipment failures before they occur, minimizing unplanned downtime and keeping production schedules on track.
  • Energy Efficiency: Monitors and analyzes energy usage across operations, identifying opportunities to reduce consumption and lower utility costs.
  • Customizable Reporting: Offers flexible reporting tools that allow businesses to generate tailored reports, providing insights into performance metrics that matter most to them.
  • Improved Customer Satisfaction: By ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products, Epicor Advanced MES helps build trust with customers, leading to stronger relationships and repeat business.
  • Inventory Optimization: Provides accurate, real-time inventory data, helping businesses reduce excess stock, avoid shortages, and manage inventory levels more effectively.
  • Strategic Decision Making: Empowers leaders with comprehensive data analytics and forecasting tools, enabling strategic decisions that drive business growth and competitiveness.
  • Workforce Productivity: Tracks labor performance and identifies areas for improvement, helping to optimize workforce productivity and reduce labor costs.
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  • Automation: Implement custom scheduling logic for order data and notify relevant stakeholders when the due date changes on production plans. 
  • Data Capture: Customize workflows to display standard operating procedures for the current task and prompt operators for quality data like key metrics or videos. 
  • Real-Time Alerts: Send customized email or SMS notifications to alert stakeholders about shop floor errors. 
  • Incident Handling: Enforce corrective action plans for anticipated or recurring production incidents to identify non-conformances quickly. 
  • Kanban-Style Dashboards: Create responsive kanban-style dashboards and customize task prioritization logic to ensure operators’ productivity and alignment with business priorities. 
  • Operator-Centric Interface: Boost operators’ efficiency and productivity with a unified interface for order information, work instructions, time-tracking and data capture. 
  • Work Instructions: Provide task-specific instructions and standard operating procedures and display the latest documentation to reduce errors. 
  • Traceability: Record production, quality and material events to simplify auditing and root cause analysis. Review order history with event logs throughout the application. 
  • Lean Principles: Customize task prioritization logic to align with business objectives and keep operators productive and prioritized. Operators can pull work orders from the top of prioritized backlogs. 
  • Resource Utilization: Leverage capacity planning to maximize resource utilization. Identify under-resourced work centers and move flexible resources to balance capacity and increase order throughput. 
  • Distribution: Maintain a master schedule visible to project managers, operators and salespeople to simplify communication. Update backlogs to inform operators about the latest priorities. 
  • Monitor Schedule Achievement: Monitor in-process order updates live from the floor, mitigating the need for daily progress updates. 
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  • Automated Data Collection: Utilize automated production and process data collected directly from the machines for analysis, reporting and planning. Eliminate manual data collection and drive continuous performance improvement with real-time data. 
  • Energy Optimization: Analyze and monitor energy consumption with the help of load patterns, production needs and live data accessed from browser-based scorecards. 
  • Automatic Alerts: Quicken resolution and response time with automated communication designed for the user’s plant environment. Establish automated alerts and notifications for machine downtime, cycles and abnormalities. 
  • Quality Control: Track cycles and machines 24/7 and automatically reject or accept products. Troubleshoot with SPC and SQC. 
  • Process Monitoring: Optimize resources with real-time insights into process parameters. Improve cost structures, manage machine time and compare cycle times. 
  • Maintenance Management: Use preventive maintenance planning to eliminate scheduled maintenance or unexpected repairs. Track MRO activity and set automated alerts for preventative maintenance. 
  • Real-time Planning: Change production schedules to meet new requirements instantly with visual drag-and-drop scheduling for machines and tools. View updated schedules and automatically adjust for performance. 
  • International Accessibility: Access the platform in 10 different languages via any internet-enabled mobile device or tablet. 
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Product Ranking

#15

among all
MES Software

#37

among all
MES Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

54
68
27
16
73
80
55
77
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Production Dispatch and Execution
Reports and Dashboards

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

FactoryFour
Epicor Advanced MES
+ Add Product + Add Product
Mobile Product And Parts Tracking Production Definition And Monitoring Production Dispatch And Execution Quality Management Reports And Dashboards Resources Management 27 73 55 94 49 76 65 16 80 77 81 78 98 76 0 25 50 75 100
29%
0%
71%
14%
0%
86%
78%
0%
22%
56%
22%
22%
55%
0%
45%
70%
10%
20%
100%
0%
0%
86%
0%
14%
56%
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44%
78%
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22%
71%
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29%
100%
0%
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63%
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37%
78%
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22%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

8%
8%
84%
25%
17%
58%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 12 reviews
Good User Sentiment 198 reviews
98%
of users recommend this product

FactoryFour has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 98% when considering 12 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

75%
of users recommend this product

Epicor Advanced MES has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 75% when considering 198 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

4.9 (12)
n/a
n/a
3.7 (73)
n/a
4.5 (23)
n/a
3.6 (102)

Awards

FactoryFour stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Improved Visibility: Users appreciate the real-time insights into their shop floor operations, enabling them to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
Enhanced Traceability: The platform's ability to track materials, production processes, and quality metrics provides valuable data for audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
Increased Efficiency: FactoryFour streamlines workflows, automates tasks, and reduces manual data entry, leading to increased productivity and reduced operational costs.
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Reduced Downtime: Real-time equipment monitoring helps identify and address potential issues before they cause downtime, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.
Improved Quality Control: The system's ability to track and trace materials and products throughout the production process helps ensure quality standards are met and reduces the risk of defects or recalls.
Enhanced Visibility: Comprehensive data collection and reporting provide real-time insights into production performance, enabling data-driven decision-making and process optimization.
Increased Efficiency: Automation of manual tasks and streamlined workflows lead to reduced labor costs and improved operational efficiency.
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Difficult to Use: Some users have reported that FactoryFour is not user-friendly and requires extensive training to use effectively. This can be a major drawback for companies that need a system that is easy to learn and use.
Limited Customization: FactoryFour is not as customizable as some other MES solutions. This can be a problem for companies with unique manufacturing processes that require a tailored system.
Integration Challenges: Integrating FactoryFour with existing systems can be challenging. This can lead to data silos and make it difficult to get a complete picture of the manufacturing process.
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Customization Challenges: The system's complexity can make tailoring it to specific workflows or unique production processes a significant undertaking.
Integration Hurdles: Connecting Epicor Advanced MES with existing enterprise systems or shop floor machinery can pose integration challenges, potentially requiring specialized expertise or custom development efforts.
User Interface Complexity: The user interface, while feature-rich, can feel overwhelming for new users due to its extensive functionalities and options, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve.
Resource Requirements: Implementing and maintaining Epicor Advanced MES effectively often necessitates dedicated IT resources and ongoing support, which can be a consideration for organizations with limited IT staff or budgets.
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Is your manufacturing execution system stuck in the dark ages? If so, FactoryFour might be the beacon of light you've been searching for. Over the past year, users have consistently praised FactoryFour for its intuitive interface, which stands in stark contrast to the clunky, cumbersome interfaces of many competitors. One user even compared switching to FactoryFour to "trading in a rusty wrench for a state-of-the-art toolbox." This ease of use has been particularly valuable for smaller businesses with limited IT resources, allowing them to quickly implement and utilize the software without extensive training or support. However, some users have expressed concerns about FactoryFour's limited customization options. While the software's out-of-the-box functionality is robust, tailoring it to meet very specific or unique manufacturing processes can be challenging. This lack of flexibility could be a dealbreaker for larger enterprises with complex, highly customized workflows. Ultimately, FactoryFour seems best suited for small to mid-sized businesses seeking a user-friendly, streamlined solution to manage their manufacturing operations. Its intuitive design and affordability make it a compelling choice for those looking to dip their toes into the world of MES without getting bogged down by complexity.

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Let's dive into the world of manufacturing software and explore what users have to say about Epicor Advanced MES. Epicor Advanced MES has received positive feedback for its ability to enhance efficiency and productivity in manufacturing operations. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface, flexibility to adapt to different needs, and scalability to accommodate growth. The software's comprehensive features, including production planning, scheduling, inventory management, quality control, and traceability, have been highlighted as key strengths. One user noted that Epicor Advanced MES has significantly improved their operational efficiency and cost reduction, making it a valuable asset for their business. Another user praised the software's power and versatility, emphasizing its positive impact on various aspects of their manufacturing processes. The automation of data collection and real-time insights provided by Epicor Advanced MES have been particularly well-received, as they eliminate manual tasks and enable proactive decision-making. Epicor Advanced MES appears to be a suitable choice for manufacturers of all sizes due to its scalability and comprehensive features. Its ability to streamline operations, improve productivity, and reduce costs makes it a valuable tool for businesses seeking to optimize their manufacturing processes.

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Screenshots

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