An extremely flexible MES system must allow both the collection and detection of data from production activities. At a first level, this is the manual declaration by the user, normally assisted by reading barcodes (processes, items and causes). At a second level (semi-automatic), the detection of basic signals from the machines is introduced to detect their operating status. At a third level (automatic), the detection is extended to data considered significant by the machining centres (in addition to operation, parameters and control values).