A battery's manufacturing history can reveal important information about its identity, materials, production conditions and quality. Much of this information is generated on the factory floor, where manufacturing execution systems record what happens during production.
Connecting these records to a Digital Battery Passport (DBP) helps manufacturers build a more complete and traceable digital record of each battery.
In our previous article, Connecting Battery Management Systems To Digital Battery Passports, we explored how operational data can describe a battery's performance during use. This article looks at an earlier stage in the lifecycle: how Manufacturing Execution System (MES) data can connect the production process with the Battery Passport.
What Is A Manufacturing Execution System (MES)?
A Manufacturing Execution System is software that monitors, tracks and manages production activities on the factory floor. It connects manufacturing operations with the information needed to understand how products are made.
Depending on the implementation, an MES can record production orders, material consumption, equipment readings, process parameters, inspection results, non-conformities and production timestamps. It can also connect components and materials to the products in which they are used.
For battery manufacturers, these capabilities can provide a detailed record of how a battery moved through production, which materials and components were used, and whether required manufacturing and quality checks were completed.
While an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system typically manages business processes and resources, an MES captures more detailed information about actual production execution. Both can contribute to the Digital Battery Passport, but they serve different purposes.
Why Does MES Data Matter For A Battery Passport?
Under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Battery Passports must contain information about the battery model and information specific to the individual battery. From 18 February 2027, the requirement applies to electric vehicle batteries, light means of transport batteries and industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh placed on the market or put into service.
Preparing this information requires manufacturers to connect relevant data from different stages of production and the wider battery value chain.
MES data can help establish the relationship between a battery's identity and its manufacturing history. It can support traceability by linking production records, component information and quality evidence to a particular battery or batch.
For example, if a manufacturer needs to investigate a quality issue, production records can help identify the materials used, the manufacturing process followed, and the inspections performed. When these records are connected to the Battery Passport architecture, relevant information can be retrieved and traced back to its source.
Not every MES record needs to appear in the Passport. The priority is to identify the information required by the applicable regulations and business processes, then make it available in a structured and reliable form.
What Manufacturing Data Can Feed A Battery Passport?
The information available depends on the manufacturer's MES configuration, production processes and existing data systems. Relevant data may include:
MES Data | Potential Battery Passport Relevance |
Production date and location | Manufacturing history and production context |
Production batch and serial number | Linking records to the correct battery |
Component and material records | Supporting material traceability and product genealogy |
Manufacturing process parameters | Evidence of production conditions where relevant |
Inspection and test results | Supporting quality and conformity records |
Non-conformities and corrective actions | Documenting relevant production issues and their resolution |
Equipment and process records | Helping trace how manufacturing activities were performed |
These are potential data sources, not a list of mandatory Passport fields. Manufacturers should map their MES records against the requirements applicable to their battery category and determine which information must be provided, when it must be updated and who is authorised to access it.
The European Commission's Digital Batteries Passport guidance brings together 71 data points and explains their applicability to different battery categories from February 2027.
Connect Manufacturing Records To The Individual Battery
One of the main challenges is ensuring that production data can be linked to the correct battery.
An MES may identify a production order or batch, while other systems use component codes, product identifiers or individual serial numbers. The Battery Passport also has a unique identifier. If these identifiers are not properly connected, production records may be difficult to associate with the correct digital record.
A practical approach is to establish a clear relationship between:
Production Order → Material And Component Records → Manufacturing Batch → Battery Serial Number → Battery Passport Identifier
The precise structure will depend on the manufacturer's production process. Some records may apply to an entire batch, while others relate to an individual battery. The data architecture should preserve this distinction rather than treating batch-level information as if it were specific to every individual unit.
This is also where Battery Passport Data Lineage becomes important. Data lineage helps organisations trace a Passport value back through the systems and processes that produced it.
Integrate MES Data Without Replacing Existing Systems
A Digital Battery Passport should not require manufacturers to replace their MES or duplicate every production record in a new platform.
Instead, the integration should identify which data already exists, where it is stored and how relevant information can be transferred to the Passport environment.
Depending on the system architecture, this could involve APIs, structured data exports or other interfaces between MES, ERP, quality management systems and the Passport platform.
The important consideration is that information remains consistent as it moves between systems. Data formats, units, timestamps and identifiers need to be handled correctly, and updates should follow defined rules.
Manufacturers can begin by mapping each relevant Passport requirement to its source system, responsible data owner and validation method. Our guide on How To Map Existing Business Data To Battery Passport Requirements explains how to organise this process.
Validate Manufacturing Data Before Publication
Production records may be generated automatically, entered by operators or transferred from connected equipment. Before relevant information is published through a Battery Passport, manufacturers need to validate the accuracy of Battery Passport Data Before Publication.
Validation checks could include confirming that:
- the production record matches the correct battery or batch;
- required fields are complete and use the expected formats and units;
- timestamps and production sequences are consistent;
- inspection results and supporting evidence are available where required; and
- corrections and changes are recorded with appropriate authorisation.
Manufacturers should also preserve the source and context of important values. If a Passport field is derived from multiple MES records, the method used to combine or transform those records should be documented.
This supports Battery Passport Data Provenance by helping organisations explain where information originated and how it reached the published Passport.
Manage Access, Updates And Sensitive Information
Manufacturing data can include confidential process parameters, production methods and commercially sensitive information. Making data available through a Battery Passport does not mean every record should be publicly accessible.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 establishes different access rights for Battery Passport information and requires appropriate controls over access and updates. Manufacturers should therefore determine which information can be shared, which users are authorised to access it and which records must remain within internal systems.
They should also define how corrections and updates are handled. If a production record is corrected after publication, the organisation needs a controlled process for reviewing the change, validating the revised information and updating the Passport where necessary.
Clear responsibilities and change records help maintain consistency between the original manufacturing evidence and the information made available through the Passport.
How BASE Supports Connected Manufacturing Data
The BASE project is developing and validating a trusted, interoperable Digital Battery Passport framework that connects information across the battery value chain. Connecting MES records with other business, engineering and lifecycle data supports BASE's focus on traceability, data authenticity, secure information exchange and privacy by design. By helping establish reliable links between source records and Passport information, this approach contributes to a more transparent and trustworthy battery data ecosystem.
From Production Records To A Traceable Battery Passport
MES integration gives manufacturers a practical starting point for connecting shop-floor information with Digital Battery Passport requirements. The process begins by identifying the relevant data, establishing reliable links to the correct battery, validating the information and defining how it will be transferred and maintained.
For manufacturers and IT teams preparing for the February 2027 requirements, the priority is to understand what their existing systems already record and how those records can support the Passport.
With a clear data map and a well-governed integration process, manufacturing execution data can help connect the battery as it was produced with the digital record that accompanies it throughout its lifecycle.
The BASE project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) Research and Innovation Actions under grant agreement No. 101157200.
References & Resources
European Commission - Guidance to Support Preparations For The Digital Batteries Passport: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/guidance-support-preparations-digital-batteries-passport-2026-08-21_en
European Union - Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 Concerning Batteries And Waste Batteries: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1542/oj
Siemens - Manufacturing Execution System Software: https://www.siemens.com/en-gb/solutions/manufacturing-execution-system-mes/
European Commission - The Digital Product Passport (DPP) for Economic Operators: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport/economic-operators_en
European Commission - Digital Product Passport for Batteries: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport/batteries_en