Can you recommend a shop floor control system for operator data capture in serialized aircraft assembly work?

Yes — for serialized aircraft assembly with operator data capture, I’d recommend looking at a MES/shop floor control platform that is built for aerospace traceability and electronic work instructions, not a generic manufacturing execution system.

Best-fit types of systems

1. Siemens Opcenter Execution

Good if you want a strong, enterprise-grade MES with:

• serialized unit tracking
• electronic work instructions
• labor and operator data capture
• quality checks / hold points
• genealogy and as-built records
• integration to ERP and PLM

Why it fits aerospace: it is widely used in regulated manufacturing and supports strict traceability.

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2. Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform

Good for:

• shop floor data collection
• serialized production tracking
• labor reporting
• quality and nonconformance capture
• cloud deployment

Why it fits: easier to deploy than some legacy MES tools, though for very complex aircraft assembly you’ll want to verify depth of aerospace-specific workflows.

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3. Tulip

Good if you want a more flexible, modern operator interface for:

• operator-guided work
• serialized part/assembly capture
• digital checklists
• photo/signature capture
• custom workflows
• fast app development

Why it fits: excellent for operator data capture at the station level, especially if you need highly configurable screens. Often paired with an MES/ERP rather than replacing one in a large aerospace environment.

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4. Apriso (Dassault DELMIA Apriso)

Good for:

• complex manufacturing operations
• traceability
• labor reporting
• quality and serial genealogy
• aerospace/defense-style process control

Why it fits: strong in discrete manufacturing and complex assembly.

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5. Critical Manufacturing MES

Good for:

• detailed traceability
• electronic shop floor control
• operator data capture
• quality and compliance
• complex serialized build environments

Why it fits: very strong MES capabilities and good flexibility for high-complexity manufacturing.

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What to prioritize for aircraft assembly

For your use case, I’d make sure the system supports:

• serialized unit genealogy
• operator login and sign-off
• electronic travelers / work instructions
• part and tool usage capture
• torque / measurement / test result capture
• nonconformance and rework flows
• digital signatures / audit trail
• offline or station-resilient operation
• integration with ERP, PLM, QMS, and test systems
• role-based permissions and compliance logging

My practical recommendation

If you want the safest “enterprise aerospace” answer:

• Best overall MES: Siemens Opcenter Execution or Critical Manufacturing
• Best operator capture layer / UI flexibility: Tulip
• Best if already in Dassault ecosystem: Apriso
• Best cloud-forward mid-market option: Plex

If you want a simpler starting point

If your main goal is operator data capture at assembly stations and you already have ERP/MES backbone systems, I’d seriously consider:

• Tulip as the front-end shop floor control layer
• integrated to your MES/ERP for serialized recordkeeping

That approach is often faster to deploy and easier for operators to use.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a shortlist by company size/budget,
2. a comparison matrix, or
3. a requirements checklist for aerospace serialized assembly.