How a panel-shop MES compares with what you already run
Nobody buys an MES into an empty shop. These pages set out, honestly, what your existing systems own and what KonstanTrack adds on top.
In one line
A panel-shop MES controls the workflow between engineering release and completed handover. ERP and MRP own the commercial record, CAD and EPLAN own the design, and a spreadsheet owns whatever the shop invented to survive. KonstanTrack sits between them and does not replace any of them.
The three comparisons
- Panel-shop MES vs ERP and MRP
How a panel-shop MES differs from ERP and MRP: what each system owns, where they overlap, and why panel builders usually need both rather than one.
- Panel-shop MES vs CAD and EPLAN
EPLAN and CAD create the design. A panel-shop MES controls what happens to it after release — revision control on the floor, build stages, inspection and handover evidence.
- Panel-shop MES vs spreadsheets
When a spreadsheet stops being good enough for panel manufacturing — the specific failure modes, what an MES adds, and an honest look at what you lose.
The boundary in full
| What KonstanTrack does | What it doesn’t |
|---|---|
| Controls the build workflow — stages, hold points, approvals and sign-off on every job. | Does not run enterprise planning, MRP runs or capacity scheduling across the business. |
| Tracks BOM readiness against each panel job so the floor knows what is ready to build. | Does not do purchasing, supplier accounts, stock valuation or inventory accounting. |
| Holds the released design, drawing revision and issue state against the job. | Does not create schematics, single-line diagrams or 3D panel layouts — that stays in your CAD/EPLAN tool. |
| Captures inspection, test and NCR records as the build happens, with a full audit trail. | Does not certify an assembly, verify a design, or discharge your duties under BS EN IEC 61439 or BS 7671. |
| Assembles the FAT and handover pack from evidence already captured against the job. | Does not replace your test equipment, test procedures or the competent person signing them. |
| Gives one live status view per job for the office, the floor and the customer update. | Does not do invoicing, payroll, nominal ledger or any accounting function. |
Not sure which gap you have?
Describe how a job moves through your shop today. We will tell you where KonstanTrack fits — or that it doesn't.
Request a quoteLast reviewed: . Written and maintained by the KonstanTrack team.