Jota Cerqueira

Senior Critical Manufacturing MES engineer with 4.5 years of hands-on delivery, strongly backend-oriented.

Builds the business logic that makes the MES run: C# DEE Actions, Connect IoT Automation Controllers and workflows, REST API integrations and reusable DLLs, covering full traceability across Injection, Painting, SMT and Final HMI Assembly at Preh Portugal.

Owns solutions end to end: functional design, development, security testing, rollout, training and production support, plus integration with SAP ERP and APS. Acts as the site lead and sole local MES representative in Trofa, coordinating plant management, the central MES team, other sites, Critical Manufacturing and machine vendors. Solutions piloted in Trofa are standardized across sites in Germany, Mexico, Romania and China.

MES Engineer / Project Manager (CMF MES Site Lead, Trofa) at Preh Portugal (2022-07 – Present)

Software & Process Engineering | Critical Manufacturing MES 10.x

• Design and develop C# DEE Actions and custom backend logic that enforce process rules, validations and flows between areas, keeping the MES consistent and traceable across Injection, Painting, SMT and Final HMI Assembly.
• Build a reusable DLL that combines MES API functions with application and equipment integration logic, shared by the factory's MES-connected applications.
• Develop C#/.NET (Windows Forms, WPF) applications integrated with the MES, including RFID applications that read production labels and write Trace Numbers for reliable identification.
• Remodelled MES validations for laser processes, including Panel In and Panel Out logic, preventing scrap caused by missing or incomplete MES configuration.
• Integrate approximately 200 machines and assets via Connect IoT controllers and workflows, IPC-CFX, ASYS, TCP/IP, REST APIs, RFID, SQL/stored procedures, EUROMAP 63, OPC UA and OIB, serving about 600 MES users.
• Own traceability end to end: materials, equipment, operators and raw materials, with automated MES production flows in place of manual records.
• Digitized Injection and Painting workflows, significantly reducing paper and spreadsheet records and improving traceability.
• Customize the front end (Kendo UI, UI pages) and build Grafana dashboards, SQL reporting and log analysis for real-time monitoring; define OEE and KPI calculations and the data behind them, replacing manually assembled Excel reports, with data feeding Power BI for management.
• Support SAP ERP integration and APS implementation, initially in Injection: process readiness, master data, planning requirements and production validation.
• Own the project LOP and monthly, quarterly and annual objectives; run weekly status meetings with production and fortnightly reviews with plant management and the Group MES project team.
• Bridge Production, Process Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Planning, Logistics, Industrialization, IT, the central MES team, other Preh sites, Critical Manufacturing and equipment vendors.
• Train users from multiple departments, support production during rollouts, and guide short-term interns and a part-time colleague on MES work.
• Established Trofa as a pilot site: solutions and know-how transferred to Germany, Mexico, Romania and China to drive group-wide standardization.

Integrated Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering; Specialization in Automation, followed by Management-oriented studies – Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP) (2015 – 2022)