Powering Manufacturing at Scale with OpenEdge

June 25, 2026 OpenEdge, Application Development

Manufacturing doesn’t pause—and neither can the systems behind it.

The applications that power orders, inventory, production, and traceability have to work every time. When they don’t, the impact is immediate: delayed shipments, missed commitments, and lost revenue.

That’s why many manufacturers continue to rely on the Progress OpenEdge platform—not just as another system, but as the operational backbone that keeps everything running.

The Systems That Actually Run the Business

Manufacturing systems aren’t built overnight. They evolve over years—sometimes decades—shaped by real production requirements, edge cases, and business rules that can’t be easily replicated.

Over time, these systems become more than software. They reflect how the business actually operates.

That’s also why replacing them is rarely simple. It’s not just about swapping technology—it’s about rebuilding years of embedded logic and operational knowledge, often with significant risk.

Why OpenEdge Remains the Foundation

For many manufacturers, OpenEdge sits at the center of daily operations:

  • Ensuring orders are accurate and fulfilled correctly
  • Keeping inventory aligned with real-world availability
  • Coordinating production based on actual constraints
  • Supporting traceability and compliance requirements

It may not always be visible—but it’s critical to keeping operations stable and predictable.

Modernization Without Disruption

The conversation isn’t about replacing core systems anymore. It’s about how to modernize without putting operations at risk.

Manufacturers need to:

  • Support new application experiences
  • Make operational data more accessible
  • Enable analytics and AI
  • Adapt to changing business requirements

The advantage of OpenEdge is that it allows teams to evolve these capabilities while keeping core systems stable.

Extending what already works—rather than replacing it—reduces risk and preserves the logic the business depends on.

Real-World Impact

When these systems are working as they should:

  • Production stays on track
  • Inventory can be trusted
  • Orders flow without manual intervention
  • Teams can respond quickly to disruptions

In one example, an OpenEdge-based solution supported a 500-user enterprise go-live with zero unplanned downtime—showing what stability at scale actually looks like.

Read some of our manufacturing success stories.

Extending Value with Data and AI

As manufacturing evolves, organizations are looking for ways to do more with the data already inside their systems.

That includes:

  • Making operational data accessible for analytics
  • Supporting modern application architectures
  • Enabling AI-driven insights while keeping data secure

The key is keeping OpenEdge as the system of record while extending its value across the business.

Learn more about AI capabilities within OpenEdge.

The Bottom Line

For manufacturers, OpenEdge isn’t just part of the stack—it’s part of how the business runs.

And the goal moving forward isn’t disruption. It’s building on what already works.

Read the Full Whitepaper

If you want a deeper look at how manufacturers are modernizing on OpenEdge—and what practical next steps look like—read the full whitepaper:
https://www.progress.com/resources/papers/inside-manufacturing-powered-by-the-openedge-platform

Jessica (Malakian) Newton

Progress Software empowers organizations to achieve transformational success in the face of disruptive change. Our software enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible AI-powered applications and digital experiences with agility and ease.

Bio Overview

With over five years of experience in product marketing, Jessica has developed a strong foundation in application development and database management software. Her entire career has been at Progress, where she began as an intern in 2020 and have since contributed to multiple products, including the Progress Corticon business rules management system and others.

Jessica specializes in Go-To-Market strategy, execution and management for the Progress OpenEdge platform—leading both campaigns and new product launches, as well as content development, market and persona research and other product marketing activities. She consistently delivers results that drive customer retention and foster innovation. Her public speaking skills have been recognized, notably when she placed first in the Pi Sigma Epsilon South/Atlantic Regional Speakers Competition.

Her goal is to empower customers and partners to fully realize the value of their OpenEdge technology—enabling them to modernize, innovate, and achieve greater business impact by maximizing existing investments and seamlessly embracing new capabilities. Whether it’s migrating to the latest version of the OpenEdge applications or leveraging the Progress Data Platform, she is dedicated to showing organizations how to transform their technology into a strategic advantage. Currently, she focuses on multiple initiatives for the OpenEdge platform, including modernization, expanding the developer base, AI integration, security and more, helping customers and partners succeed in a rapidly evolving landscape. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys writing and reading, which help her stay creative and balanced.

Areas of Expertise

  • Product Marketing Strategy
  • Go-To-Market Execution and Management
  • Content Development
  • Market and Persona Research
  • Public Speaking

Credentials & Publications

  • Pi Sigma Epsilon South/Atlantic Regional Speakers Competition – First Place

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