Key takeaways
Shop floor management software helps manufacturers see and control what happens in production, in real time.
You will also see it called shop floor control software or shop floor tracking software. The core idea is the same: replace paper, whiteboards and end-of-shift estimates with live data.
For a broader introduction, read our guide to shop floor management software.
| Capability | What it does |
|---|---|
| Production tracking | Counts output and shows what each machine or line is doing |
| OEE and downtime | Measures availability, performance and quality, and records why machines stop |
| Work instructions | Guides operators through each step on a screen |
| Quality checks | Captures inspections and in-process measurements |
| Scheduling and dispatch | Decides which job runs where and when |
| Maintenance | Handles work orders, preventive maintenance and spare parts |
| Integration | Connects machines (PLCs, sensors) and business systems (ERP) |
Tools differ in which of these rows they focus on. That is why the category of the tool matters as much as its feature list.
If you are still deciding between these approaches, our comparison of MES vs OEE vs CMMS explains the trade-offs.
This table summarizes how each vendor describes its own product. Check the details against your requirements and the vendor's current documentation.
| Tool | What each vendor says |
|---|---|
| Fabrico | Category: OEE platform with a full CMMS Best suited to: Plants that want OEE and maintenance in one system Maintenance: Built-in CMMS: work orders, preventive maintenance, spare parts |
| MachineMetrics | Category: Manufacturing operating system (MaximaOS) Best suited to: Discrete manufacturers with high-mix, tight-tolerance work Maintenance: Condition-based alerts that create work orders in your CMMS |
| Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform | Category: Cloud MES and ERP suite Best suited to: Discrete, hybrid and regulated manufacturers Maintenance: Preventive maintenance and maintenance requests |
| Redzone | Category: Connected workforce platform Best suited to: Enterprise manufacturers with many sites Maintenance: Redzone Reliability, described as CMMS software |
| Tulip | Category: Frontline operations platform Best suited to: Manufacturers that want composable, configurable operator apps Maintenance: A CMMS App Suite in the Tulip Library |
Fabrico is listed first because it is our product. The other tools are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked.
Disclosure: Fabrico is our product.
What it is: an OEE platform with a full CMMS built in, for plants that want to see production losses and act on them in the same system.
Manufacturers whose biggest losses come from equipment: breakdowns, changeovers, short stops and slow running.
It fits teams that want production and maintenance to work from the same machine data.
What it is: MachineMetrics calls its platform, MaximaOS, "the AI-powered operating system for discrete manufacturing."
MachineMetrics says it is purpose-built for discrete manufacturing, with a focus on high-mix, tight-tolerance work.
What it is: Plex describes its MES as "a cloud-based production management platform that gives manufacturers full visibility across the plant floor and real-time control over production lifecycle."
Plex says its platform is tailored for discrete, hybrid and regulated industries, with industry pages for automotive, aerospace, food and beverage, electronics and more.
What it is: Redzone describes itself as "a connected workforce platform for manufacturers that helps production, quality, and maintenance teams work together in real time."
Redzone says it is built for enterprise manufacturers operating across multiple sites and regions, in industries such as food and beverage, consumer packaged goods and chemicals.
What it is: Tulip calls itself a frontline operations platform and describes a composable platform that gives "every site, team, and system a single place to build, connect, and improve."
Tulip lists pharmaceutical, aerospace and defense, industrial manufacturing and medical devices among its industries.
Tulip also offers ready-made app suites in its Library.
These are shorter entries, listed alphabetically. The shorter format is not a ranking.
Epicor says Advanced MES "collects data directly from equipment and operators on the shop floor in real-time."
Epicor also markets dynamic production scheduling, SPC and a preventive maintenance module, and says Advanced MES automates production monitoring to improve OEE.
A separate product, Epicor Data Analytics for Advanced MES, is aimed at teams that want to enhance OEE.
ECI describes JobBOSS² as a job shop ERP for quoting, job costing, shop floor scheduling and inventory, aimed at small and mid-sized manufacturers.
OEE and automated machine data collection are marketed through the ECI MES integration with JobBOSS².
Vorne describes XL as "a standalone device that includes I/O to communicate with your process, a scoreboard for your operators, and built-in reporting for your managers."
It captures counts, cycles and downtime from line sensors, with built-in reports such as OEE, TEEP and top losses. Vorne says it works on any discrete manufacturing process, and the cloud part, XL Enterprise, is optional.
Answer these eight questions before you book demos. They remove most of the wrong options quickly.
| Criterion | Suggested weight | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Machine data and OEE accuracy | 25% | Automatic capture, short-stop detection, clear definitions |
| Maintenance fit | 20% | Work orders, preventive maintenance and parts, built in or integrated |
| Operator usability | 15% | Fast input, clear screens, mobile access |
| Scheduling fit | 15% | Only as heavy as your process really needs |
| Integrations | 15% | ERP, PLCs, APIs, data export |
| Security and support | 10% | Certifications, hosting, response times |
Adjust the weights to your plant. A job shop will weigh scheduling higher, and a high-speed line will weigh short-stop detection higher.
Our pilot success criteria guide helps you decide what "working" means before you start.
If equipment losses are your biggest problem, Fabrico shows them in real time, and your team can open work orders for them in the same platform.
Book a demo and bring the machine you trust least. For related tools, see our guide to the best production monitoring systems.
Sources: each vendor's public website, checked on 16 September 2026. Product names are trademarks of their owners.
Features change often, so confirm details with each vendor.
It is software that tracks and guides production on the factory floor, including machine status, output, downtime, quality checks and work instructions.
Some tools also cover scheduling and maintenance.
The terms overlap. Shop floor control usually refers to tracking and controlling work in progress on the floor.
An MES is typically a broader system that also covers areas such as scheduling, quality, traceability and genealogy. See OEE software vs MES.
No. Many tools can also use retrofit sensors, cameras or operator input.
PLC data is usually the most detailed source when it is available.
Pricing models vary by vendor. Common approaches are per site, per machine or per user, often with hardware and implementation on top.
Ask each vendor for a quote based on the same scope so you can compare fairly.
No. A CMMS manages maintenance work, while shop floor software manages production.
Some platforms, such as Fabrico, combine OEE and a full CMMS in one system.
Track OEE, downtime minutes and the number of losses that were turned into completed actions.
Compare them with the baseline you collected before the rollout.
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