MESA（Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association）对制造执行系统(MES)的定义：

在产品从工单发出到成品完工的过程中，制造执行系统起到传递信息以优化生产活动的作用。在生产过程中，借助实时精确的信息、MES引导、发起、响应，报告生产活动。作出快速的响应以应对变化, 减少无附加价值的生产活动，提高操作及流程的效率。MES提升投资回报、净利润水平、改善现金流和库存周转速度、保证按时出货。MES保证了整个企业内部及供应商间生产活动关键任务信息的双向流动。

Manufacturing execution systems (MES) are computerized systems used in manufacturing, to track and document the transformation of raw materials to finished goods. MES provides information that helps manufacturing decision makers understand how current conditions on the plant floor can be optimized to improve production output. MES work in real time to enable the control of multiple elements of the production process (e.g. inputs, personnel, machines and support services).