A Lightweight Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

A lightweight manufacturing execution system (MES) for small manufacturers: work order execution, live inventory control, lot genealogy, and yield reporting.

A Lightweight Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

Execute work orders, keep inventory accurate, trace lots, and report yield the core of an MES for small manufacturers, without the enterprise price tag or implementation project.

By Tibeau De Grauwe, FounderUpdated July 2026

  • 25 products free
  • No credit card
  • 10-min setup

The Core of an MES Without the Enterprise Weight

A manufacturing execution system exists to connect the plan to the floor: execute work orders, record what was made, keep stock accurate, and prove traceability. StockFlow delivers that core as production tracking built on your inventory and bills of materials the practical 80% of an MES that small manufacturers actually use.

  • Work order execution and record build
  • Automatic inventory and WIP updates
  • Lot genealogy for recall readiness
  • Yield and cost variance per run

MES capabilities, right-sized

Work Order Execution

Release work orders from a BOM and record builds on the floor with clear statuses.

Live Inventory Control

Builds consume components and receive finished goods automatically stock stays accurate.

Lot Genealogy & Traceability

Trace component lots through to finished lots for recall readiness and compliance.

Yield & Variance Reporting

Expected vs actual output, unit cost, and cost variance for every production run.

Planning Board

Due-today / due-soon / overdue board so the floor knows what to run next.

Barcode-Ready

Scan components and finished goods with a phone no dedicated MES terminals needed.

Compare approaches: light manufacturing software, shop floor control, and what is MRP.

Run your floor for free

Get MES essentials execution, traceability, and yield without an enterprise project. Start on the free plan.

Free plan · No credit card required

Trusted by small businesses

What our customers say

Super Kind! Quick replies from their support and very easy fixes, changed the dashboard a bit and customized it. Also gave me 450 items extra on the free plan just for me. Highly recommend and again great service!

Erasable Trading AU

Best customer service! Stockflow's customer support is fast and extremely helpful. They assisted me with customization of the software to improve my experience as a user.

Justin M.

Co-Owner, Consumer Goods

Frequently asked questions

What is a manufacturing execution system (MES)?
A manufacturing execution system (MES) tracks and controls production as it happens on the shop floor turning work orders into recorded builds, capturing what was consumed and produced, tracing lots, and reporting yield. Traditional MES platforms are large and expensive. StockFlow provides lightweight MES capabilities for small manufacturers: work orders from a bill of materials, record-build execution, lot genealogy, and yield reporting, all on top of your live inventory.
Do small manufacturers need a full MES?
Usually not. A full MES is designed for large plants with complex routing, machine integration, and dedicated IT. Most small manufacturers need the core of what an MES does execute work orders, keep inventory accurate, trace lots, and see yield without the cost and multi-month implementation. That is exactly what inventory-led manufacturing in StockFlow delivers.
How does StockFlow act as a lightweight MES?
You open work orders from a bill of materials, release them to a planning board (due today, due soon, overdue), and record builds. Recording a build consumes components and receives finished goods automatically, captures lot numbers for traceability, and updates the yield report with expected vs actual output and cost variance.
Does it support traceability and recall readiness?
Yes. Production runs capture lot numbers and genealogy so you can trace component lots through to finished lots the backbone of recall readiness for food, cosmetics, electronics, and other regulated products.
How much does a lightweight MES cost?
StockFlow starts free with inventory-led manufacturing. Paid plans that add order management, more users, and higher limits start at $9.00/month a fraction of a traditional MES, with no implementation project.