Low-Code MES Customization: Accelerating SAP ME Workflows with Fiori and Power Apps
Keywords:
Low-Code Development, SAP ME, Manufacturing Execution Systems, SAP Fiori, Microsoft Power Apps, Workflow Automation, Digital Transformation, Shop Floor OptimizationAbstract
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are central to today’s production environments, but quickly and affordably customizing these systems is still a major challenge. SAP Manufacturing Execution (SAP ME) is one of the most widely used MES platforms worldwide, but even small changes have typically required specialized ABAP or Java skills. This has often led to delays between what the shop floor needs and what IT can deliver. This paper looks at how low-code development tools, such as SAP Fiori and Microsoft Power Apps, can speed up SAP ME workflow customization. Using a design science approach and data from five workflow categories between 2019 and 2021, the study found that development cycles were cut by 50–70%. There were also clear improvements in operator usability, and more people were able to create applications. The results show that low-code tools do not replace SAP ME’s processing engine, but instead add to it, creating a hybrid setup that combines enterprise reliability with greater flexibility.
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