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This paper explores the importance of smart manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0, highlighting the crucial role of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MESs) in facilitating Industry 4.0, particularly in data capture and process management. It is worth noting that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face several obstacles, unlike large companies that have the resources to adopt these principles. This text explores the challenges that SMEs encounter when adopting Industry 4.0, considering budget constraints and technology transfer difficulties. The potential benefits of such projects are often difficult to measure during the initial stages, but they can facilitate the digital transformation of small businesses. To support this thesis, this paper presents an example of MES implementation in a manufacturing SME, showcasing the creation of a comprehensive data monitoring and industrial performance assessment system. This paper aims to introduce a systematic approach for integrating a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework using MESs within an SME. This paper highlights the importance of transitioning from big data to smart data to achieve outcomes in terms of operational efficiency, cost analysis, workload management, resource utilisation, knowledge dissemination, and enhanced operator engagement.
Bianchini et al. (Wed,) studied this question.