Traditional MES platforms were built for a manufacturing world that no longer exists.

They assume stable product lines.

They assume you have time for lengthy implementations, tolerance for complexity, and operators who can navigate digital forms while running production.

But here's the challenge. Today's manufacturing reality is different:

⇨ Markets demand the flexibility to shift from 1.5-liter bottles to 1-liter bottles overnight

⇨ Low volume, high mix production is now the norm

⇨ Tribal knowledge is retiring faster than it's being captured

⇨ Workers stay 2-3 years, not 20, making traditional training models obsolete

The cost of this disconnect?

❌ Frontline workforce unable to contribute operational intelligence at scale

❌ ROI delayed by complexity, not capability

❌ Two-year deployment cycles for basic systems

❌ Digital initiatives stuck in pilot purgatory

That's why leading manufacturers are rethinking execution from the ground up, shifting from monolithic systems to AI-native, human-centric platforms built for today's workforce reality.

This new approach is effective because it’s built with an AI-native mindset, not a digitized version of paper-based processes

✅ AI-generated SOPs from video, cutting engineering time by 80%

✅ Learning systems that surface troubleshooting guidance from historical fault data

✅ Human-centric design that captures operational intelligence without disrupting workflows

✅ AI-powered interfaces that enable natural interaction; think voice, not dropdowns

✅ Rapid deployment measured in weeks

✅ Scalable without complexity; connect thousands of machines without lengthy integrations

The companies winning today aren’t planning more; they’re executing faster and adapting continuously.

In this episode of the AI in Manufacturing podcast, I speak with Mickey Shaposhnik, Founder and CEO of Next Plus, about how practical, AI-powered frontline execution is redefining operational excellence.

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