Configuring a Machine's Production Settings
Overview
This guide walks through the Production & Operations tab on the Machine Edit page — where you configure how an individual machine tracks production activity, how jobs are identified and managed, how programs are matched to jobs, and how work is attributed to ERP resources. For machines with MES enabled, it also controls labor ticket tracking and ERP integration behavior.
Feature Availability
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Access Level | Manager, Executive, and IT Admin users. |
| Navigation | In the main sidebar, click Machines. Select a machine from the list, click the settings icon in the machine header, then open the Production & Operations tab. |
How It Works
Manage jobs in
Controls where operators sign in, select jobs, and submit labor tickets.
- ShopPulse — Operators manage jobs and submit labor tickets in MachineMetrics. Data syncs back to your ERP.
- ERP Driven — All job activity is managed in your ERP. MachineMetrics reflects the ERP state in read-only mode. "Jobs selected by" is not available in this mode.
Record labor as / Schedule jobs as
- Record labor as — The ERP resource that labor tickets are attributed to. Only one can be selected. Note: If this machine uses ERP Driven mode ("Manage jobs in" = ERP Driven), "Record labor as" must be set to an individual resource — resource groups are not supported in ERP Driven mode.
- Schedule jobs as — The ERP resource(s) that control which jobs appear in this machine's Dispatch Schedule. Each can be an individual resource or a resource group, and multiple can be selected.
These map the machine to its ERP resources. Both must be set before MES can be enabled on the machine.
Jobs selected by
Controls how the active job is identified on this machine. Available when "Manage jobs in" is set to ShopPulse. If the machine is incompatible with program-based job selection (e.g., it does not produce program data), the Program option may be unavailable — this is a machine-level limitation reflected in the UX.
Operator
The operator selects jobs from the Dispatch Schedule. When MES is off, an Operators can create new operations toggle also appears — when enabled, operators can manually create jobs rather than selecting only from scheduled work.
Program
Jobs are identified and tracked automatically based on the program running on the machine.
Auto Production Monitoring (APM) is an automated matching algorithm that identifies which job is running on a machine based on the active program. It monitors running programs and matches them to their corresponding jobs based on part numbers and program data — eliminating the need for operators to manually identify which job is running.
This is especially valuable for machines running multiple concurrent jobs — like palletized machines — where manually tracking which program belongs to which job isn't practical.
APM works regardless of whether MES is enabled, but the job lifecycle is handled differently in each case. Without MES, APM tracks production runs — the "Create run when operation changes" setting controls when a new run starts. With MES, APM-matched jobs are tied directly to labor tickets, which manage the run lifecycle instead.
When Program is selected, additional program matching settings appear — including Data Items, Default Activity, Ignored Programs, and more. See Auto Production Monitoring (APM) for full configuration guidance and a complete reference for each setting.
Optional Features
When MES is enabled and "Manage jobs in" is set to ShopPulse, an Optional Features section appears with per-machine toggles for features that extend the base MES workflow.
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Enable first article inspection | Adds a quality inspection step at the setup-to-production transition. When the operator completes setup, they are prompted to submit their first piece for QA inspection before entering production. A QA inspector reviews the piece at a dedicated inspection station and either approves (clearing the operator to enter production) or rejects with a reason (returning the operator to setup). See First Article Inspection for the full workflow. |
| Enable shift handover | Adds a structured end-of-shift handoff workflow. When an operator clocks out, they can review shift analytics, add notes for the incoming operator, and submit an AI-generated summary. The incoming operator sees this summary alongside their assigned work on clock-in. See Shift Handover for the full workflow. |
The same toggles are available as the FAI and Handover columns on the MES Settings Machines tab for bulk management across all machines.
MES Enablement
The MES toggle enables MES on this machine. You can configure all other settings on this page — resource mappings, job management mode, job selection method — before enabling MES. When the machine is ready, enable MES here.
Enabling MES shifts the machine to ERP-sourced work order operations with labor ticket tracking. Active operator sessions and jobs on the machine will be stopped — a warning dialog confirms the impact before applying. The same applies when disabling MES; submit any in-flight labor tickets first to avoid data issues. Other machines are unaffected by changes to this machine's MES toggle.
How Settings Interact
How these settings interact depends on your connector type (Uniform or Flexible). See MES Settings for a full explanation. The short version:
- Uniform Connector accounts — The account-level Global Job Management Method and each machine's MES toggle together constrain what configuration options are available.
- Flexible Connector accounts (Epicor Kinetic) — Each machine's configuration is fully independent.
Your SDM can confirm which connector type applies to your account.
Configuration Summary
| MES | Manage jobs in | Jobs selected by | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off | ShopPulse | Operator | MES not enabled — no labor tickets |
| Off | ShopPulse | Program | Program-driven job tracking — automated matching, no labor tickets |
| On | ShopPulse | Operator | MES with manual job selection — operator picks jobs, labor tickets submitted to ERP |
| On | ShopPulse | Program | MES with program-driven job tracking — programs matched automatically, operator confirms, labor tickets submitted to ERP |
| On | ERP Driven | N/A (locked) | ERP-managed — jobs and labor handled in ERP, MachineMetrics is read-only |
How to Use It
- Set "Manage jobs in" to ShopPulse or ERP Driven based on how this machine's jobs should be tracked.
- Map ERP resources — set "Record labor as" and "Schedule jobs as" to associate the machine with its ERP resources for labor attribution and job scheduling.
- Set "Jobs selected by" to Operator or Program (available when "Manage jobs in" is ShopPulse).
- Review program matching settings if using Program — Data Items, Ignored Programs, and Default Activity. The defaults work for most machines; consult your SDM before adjusting. See Auto Production Monitoring (APM) for a full guide.
- Enable MES if applicable — click "Enable MES on this machine." A warning dialog confirms the impact before applying. This step can be skipped for machines not using MES.
Tips & Best Practices
- Configure before you enable. Set resource mappings, job management mode, and APM settings before enabling MES. These settings can all be prepared without any impact on current operations.
- Time MES enablement around shift boundaries. Enabling or disabling MES stops active work on the machine — coordinate with operators.
- Use the MES Settings page for bulk configuration. MES-related settings configured here are also available on the MES Settings page, which lets you configure many machines at once before enabling MES on any of them.
- Leave program matching settings at their defaults initially. The default Data Items configuration works for most machines. Only adjust after reviewing matching behavior in production.
FAQs & Troubleshooting
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Why can't I enable MES on this machine? Both "Record labor as" and "Schedule jobs as" must be mapped before the MES toggle can be enabled.
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Why is "Jobs selected by" grayed out? This setting is only available when "Manage jobs in" is set to ShopPulse. If "Manage jobs in" is ShopPulse but the Program option is still unavailable, the machine may be incompatible with program-based job selection (e.g., it does not produce program data).
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Why are some settings locked or unavailable? For Uniform Connector accounts, the Global Job Management Method and each machine's MES toggle together determine what configuration options are available. Some settings may be constrained based on these selections. Contact your SDM for details.
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What happens when I enable MES on a machine? MES is enabled on the machine. Active operator sessions and jobs stop on that machine. A warning dialog explains this before you confirm — no changes are applied until you do. Other machines are unaffected.
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What happens when I disable MES? MES is disabled on the machine. Active sessions and jobs stop. If there are in-flight labor tickets, submit them before disabling to avoid data issues.
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Why do some Data Items appear grayed out or expired? If a machine has been remapped or its configuration context changed, previously selected data items may no longer be valid. Remove or replace expired items so program matching uses current data sources.
Related Articles
- MES Settings
- Auto Production Monitoring (APM)
- How to Use ShopPulse on MES-Enabled Machines
- First Article Inspection
- Shift Handover
Need Help?
Contact your Solutions Delivery Manager or email support@machinemetrics.com.