The verdict in three sentences
A custom MES (Manufacturing Execution System) costs 40,000 to 75,000 EUR in 2026 for a manufacturing SME. It drives work orders, pulls machine status from the shop floor and traces quality end to end. The concrete gain: +8 points of OEE (overall equipment effectiveness), full traceability and ROI within 12 to 24 months.
The budget module by module
A custom MES is built in layers: work-order control, shop-floor capture, quality, then integration with the existing ERP.
| Module | Scope | Cost 2026 (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Work orders & planning | Scheduling, load, priorities | 12,000 |
| Machine / shop-floor tracking | Terminals, time capture, stoppages | 8,000 |
| Quality control | Control plans, non-conformities | 6,000 |
| ERP integration | Work orders, stock, BOMs | 6,000 |
| Rollout & UAT | Terminals, operator training | 8,000 to 43,000 |
| Total | Full project | 40,000 to 75,000 |
Delivery runs 16 to 26 weeks, with shop-floor terminal rollout and change management driving the upper range.
What +8 points of OEE means
OEE aggregates availability, performance and quality. Every point gained is machine time turned into sellable output.
| Metric | Before MES | After custom MES |
|---|---|---|
| Average OEE | 62 % | 70 % (+8 pts) |
| Work-order entry time / day | 90 min | 15 min |
| Non-conformity rate | 4.2 % | 2.5 % |
| Batch traceability | Partial | Full |
| Machine-stoppage reporting delay | 2 h | Real time |
On a line running 3,500 h/year, moving from 62 % to 70 % OEE equals about 280 extra production hours, with no machine investment.
Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a 60-employee manufacturing SME in Grenoble, had no real-time shop-floor visibility. She invests 58,000 EUR in a custom MES. OEE rises from 62 % to 70 %, generating the equivalent of 280 production hours/year; at a 180 EUR/h contribution margin, that is ~50,000 EUR/year. Added to fewer non-conformities, the solution reaches ROI in about 15 months.
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FAQ
How much does custom MES software cost in 2026?
Budget 40,000 to 75,000 EUR for a full MES (work orders, shop floor, quality, ERP integration). A first work-orders + shop-floor scope can start around 25,000 EUR.
Does the MES connect to our existing ERP?
Yes. Integration syncs work orders, stock and BOMs with your ERP (SAP, Sage X3, Odoo...), for around 6,000 EUR depending on the connector.
How is OEE measured with this software?
The MES automatically computes availability, performance and quality from shop-floor entries and machine data, and displays OEE in real time per line and shift.
Do we need to equip the shop floor with terminals?
Yes, typically touch terminals or rugged tablets at workstations. Their cost and rollout are in the rollout line (8,000 to 43,000 EUR by workstation count).
What is the go-live timeline?
Between 16 and 26 weeks. A pilot on one line is often delivered by week 12 to validate capture before scaling.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your lines, your ERP and workstation count, plus budget (40,000 to 75,000 EUR): we will frame the MES scope. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
