How PCG SmartFactory MES connects to Infor LN
Integration with LN Shop Floor and Production
The vendor describes SmartFactory as connecting to LN Shop Floor and Production. Details such as whether it uses LN APIs, BODs or database access are not stated in the source, so ask which is used, who supports it and what LN versions are covered.
LN as planning and costing system
In a typical split, LN plans production orders and costs them, and the MES drives execution on the floor and sends back time and quantity transactions. Confirm which system owns each step in your design.
What data moves
| From | To | Data | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| LN production orders and routings | SmartFactory | Released orders, operations, quantities and due dates | Order release |
| SmartFactory | LN | Operator and machine time and completed quantities | Operator starts, stops or completes an operation |
| SmartFactory | LN | Scrap and quality results, if configured | Inspection or reject entry |
Setting it up
- 1Map the shop floor processDocument how orders flow from release to completion, including rework, subcontracting and material issue, before configuring anything.
- 2Confirm the interfaceGet written detail from PCG on the LN modules, versions and transactions the integration covers.
- 3Align master dataCheck work centres, machines, routings and employee codes in LN match what the MES will present on mobile devices.
- 4Configure terminals and mobile devicesSet operator login, shift calendars and offline behaviour if connectivity is unreliable on the floor.
- 5Pilot one cellRun one work area for a few weeks and reconcile reported hours and quantities with LN daily.
- 6Roll out and adjust costingConfirm how reported time feeds labour and machine cost in LN before widening use.
What usually breaks
- !Routing operations in LN not matching how work is actually done, so operators cannot record against them.
- !Machine time and operator time double counted in costing.
- !Reported quantities posted before quality approval, inflating good output.
- !Unreliable wifi leading to missing or delayed transactions that planners then misread.
- !Employee or work centre master data changed in LN but not refreshed in the MES.
A private AI layer across both systems
Plan versus actual analysis
Compare LN planned hours and quantities with MES actuals and explain the biggest gaps by operation, machine or shift.
Missing transaction detection
Find operations with time recorded but no completion in LN, or the reverse, for a supervisor to resolve.
Plain-language shop floor questions
Ask which orders are at risk of missing their due date given current progress, reading both systems with the query shown.
Try it here, free
Infor LN Routing Operation Labor and Machine Cost Calculator
Turn the fields of an LN routing operation (setup time, cycle time or production rate, man and machine occupation, fixed duration) into hours and cost per unit.
When something else fits better
- LN's own Shop Floor Control may be enough if you only need labour reporting and order completion.
- Other MES products with a documented LN link may fit better for your sector, so compare options.
- For a few machines, machine monitoring alone may answer the questions without full MES.
Frequently asked questions
What does PCG SmartFactory do with Infor LN?
The vendor says SmartFactory connects to the LN CloudSuite Shop Floor and Production modules and lets operators record operator and machine time on mobile devices, with quality and compliance modules available. The detailed technical method is not given in the cited material.
Does the MES replace LN Shop Floor Control?
Not necessarily. LN keeps production planning and costing, while the MES handles execution detail and data capture. Which functions sit where is decided during design, so write the responsibilities down before configuration.
Can AI run on top without cloud services?
Yes. A private assistant on your own GPUs can read LN and MES data read-only, compare plan with actuals and flag gaps, keeping production data inside your network. Any correction to orders or time records requires human approval.
Pairing documented at smartfactory-videos-mes-manufacturing-execution-system.hubs.vidyard.com/categori . PCG SmartFactory MES is a product of PCG; Netray is independent and not affiliated with either vendor.