Global manufacturing trends are driving changes in manufacturing execution systems (MES) and operations management (OM). Traditional MES applications and older IT infrastructures are limiting performance. Now manufacturers are investing more in plant floor IT like OM, an $8 billion market. Today's dynamic environment values information and synchronization across functions like design, engineering, supply chain, production, and customers. OM provides real-time visibility, analytics, connectivity, and orchestration to help manufacturers improve performance metrics like flexibility, quality, and productivity. An effective OM solution has three pillars - infrastructure, connectivity, and functionality - to support business needs across the operations.