In the manufacturing world, every second and every drop of data is priceless. From assembly-line throughput to shift handovers, from provisioning spare parts to guarding access in high-risk zones, manufacturers face constant pressure to optimize processes and empower workers. With the Mendix low-code application development platform, you can connect your workforce with machinery, tools, products and data in a single, unified environment.
The case for low-code in manufacturing
Even as factories digitize, many organizations still juggle spreadsheets, paper logs and legacy systems. This friction creates:
- Bottlenecks in release management. Updating user manuals, maintenance guides and compliance docs across multiple lines is labour-intensive.
- Shift-handover errors. Handwritten logs and whiteboards lead to miscommunication, downtime and safety gaps.
- Access delays. Manual requests for secure-area badges or machine lockouts slow operations and risk non-compliance.
With Mendix low-code, you can automate these workflows in days instead of months, and iterate on the fly as requirements change.
Driving digital transformation with IT/OT convergence
Along the shift towards Industry 4.0 came the prevalence of Operational Technology (OT), in the form of hardware and software used to monitor and control industrial equipment, processes, and infrastructure. By combining OT systems with IT networks, the manufacturing industry is able to improve efficiency, security and data-drive decision-making.
Manufacturers must modernize their IT/OT development framework or risk obsolescence. Traditional code can’t keep up with increased complexity and shorter timelines. With Mendix, industrial enterprises can accelerate product development to meet customer demands and leverage critical IT/OT data to build a future-ready operational strategy.
Mendix is recognized as a leader in low-code by both Gartner and Forrester, and its modular composability means you can incorporate new features via the Mendix marketplace and service connectors faster and more securely than ever before.
Key benefits of Mendix low-code for manufacturing
- Rapid app delivery:
- One-click deployment straight from Mendix Studio Pro or Studio.
- Visual modeling accelerates development and brings lines of business into the conversation.
- Built-in testing and versioning ensure quality without slowing you down.
- Data unification and analytics:
- Connect to PLCs, SCADA systems and IoT sensors via prebuilt connectors or custom REST/OData.
- Aggregate siloed data into a single dashboard, so engineers, operators and managers share one source of truth.
- Leverage Mendix AI capabilities to generate data-driven insights or even GPT-powered chatbots for on-demand reporting.
- Enterprise-grade security and governance:
- Role-based access control keeps shop-floor data safe and compliant.
- Automated audit trails and approvals ensure all changes meet internal and regulatory standards.
- Choice of deployment: public cloud, private cloud or on-premises — so you can align with ISO, FDA or industry-specific regulations.
These capabilities are built on a truly composable foundation. Mendix gives you reusable, modular low-code components that reduce cost, improve efficiency and increase resource leverage.
Low-code in action: three real-world use cases
- Streamlined release-management hub: Track each document version and approval step in a visual workflow; automatically notify SMEs and QA when changes are submitted; generate PDF exports with embedded digital signatures for audit compliance.
- Digital shift-handover portal: Replace paper logbooks with a Mendix mobile app that time-stamps shift sign-ins/outs, records KPIs (OEE, temperature, maintenance flags) and pushes them to a central dashboard for near-real-time visibility.
- Automated entry-lifecycle management: Provide a self-service portal for badge requests and approvals; integrate with HR and badge-printing systems for instant activation; log every entry/exit event into your security analytics for incident investigations.
Each of these apps can be built with Mendix starter templates, to increase quality, uniformity and efficiency on your shop floor.
Seamless MES integration
Manufacturers rely on manufacturing execution systems (MES) to enforce digital strategies. Mendix low-code apps let you connect to an MES (such as Siemens Opcenter) to extend core processes with a tailored UI, accelerating your digital transformation without rip-and-replace.
Scaling innovation at speed
By putting low-code in the hands of process engineers, floor supervisors and IT alike, you eliminate backlog bottlenecks and empower multidisciplinary teams to solve real problems—fast. Whether you’re:
- Launching a new product line with zero downtime
- Responding to supplier delays with dynamic routing apps
- Embedding AI-powered quality inspections on your vision systems
Backed by 175 years of industrial expertise
Mendix’s position as a Siemens company gives it a distinct advantage in manufacturing and industrial sectors. As part of Siemens Digital Industries Software, Mendix benefits from seamless integration with Siemens Industrial Edge and MindSphere, allowing manufacturers to embed industrial-grade IoT and edge-computing capabilities directly into their low-code apps.
Mendix on Edge empowers teams to develop and run applications locally on the factory floor with minimal coding, while integrations via Mendix Data Hub and MindSphere provide real-time access to sensor and production data from any device.
This close affiliation means every Mendix feature is informed by Siemens’ century-long expertise in automation and digital transformation, helping customers accelerate IT/OT convergence and factory digitization with confidence.
Unlock your factory’s full potential with re.tone’s Mendix expertise. Contact us today to schedule a discovery workshop. Let’s build your next-generation manufacturing apps together.
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