Process Segment

Sepasoft MES Module Suite

Process Segment

This object holds the definition of tasks that are performed in a manufacturing facility.

Tasks can be as simple as 'Receive Material' or 'Package Product', but can also be more granular such as 'Changeover Line', 'Clean Tank' or 'Inspect Material'.

The Process Segment is never used in an actual operation but acts as a template for Operation Segments to be derived from.

The Process Segment itself is derived from the AbstractMESObject and inherits all the exposed properties, methods and events for that object.


Object Creation

Process segments can be created in the client using the MES Object Editor component or through scripting using the following functions:

system.mes.createMESObject()

Copy Code
Python
#Create a process segment to base the operations segment on
ps = system.mes.createMESObject('ProcessSegment')
ps.setPropertyValue('Name','Unload Nuts')
#Create a new equipment reference complex property
eqProp = ps.createComplexProperty('Equipment', 'Station')
#Set the Equipment Reference for it
eqLink = system.mes.getMESObjectLinkByName('Line', 'Nut Unloading')
eqProp.setEquipmentRefType(eqLink.getMESObjectType().getName())
eqProp.setEquipmentRefUUID(eqLink.getMESObjectUUID())
     
#Create a new material reference complex property
matProp = ps.createComplexProperty('Material', 'Received Nuts')
 
#Set the lot Equipment Reference for it
matEqLink = system.mes.getMESObjectLinkByName('EquipmentClass', 'Nut Silos')
matProp.setEquipmentRefType(matEqLink.getMESObjectType().getName())
matProp.setEquipmentRefUUID(matEqLink.getMESObjectUUID())
   
#Set the material for it
matObj = system.mes.loadMESObject('Bulk Nuts', 'MaterialClass')
matProp.setMaterialRefUUID(matObj.getUUID())
matProp.setMaterialRefType(matObj.getMESObjectType().getName()) 
 
#Set the other remaining properties for it
matProp.setUse('Out') 
#Set lot number source
#The lot number of material being unloaded will be entered manually or with script
matProp.setLotNumberSource('Manual')
   
#Set the quantity source
#The quantity of material being unloaded will be entered manually or with script
matProp.setQuantitySource('Manual')
   
#Creates a new material lot object for this material
matProp.setAutoGenerateLot(True)
matProp.setRatePeriod('None')
matProp.setUnits('lbs')
   
#The new process segment only resides in memory so save it to the database
system.mes.saveMESObject(ps)

Updating Derived Objects

The Process Segment is used as a template for Operations Segments.
  • When changes are made to the Process Segment using the MES Object Editor component, updating any derived Operations Segments is automatically updated.
  • When changes are made to the Process Segment through scripting, you must handle updating any derived objects via scripting. The scripting function system.mes.updateDependencies() can be used for this purpose.

Core Properties

Inherits the AbstractMESObject

These properties are accessible through the MES Object Editor and with the provided object functions, but not directly as obj.properties. Property values can be accessed and changed for an object by using the getPropertyValue() and setPropertyValue() method.


Name
R/W
Description
EndOperationWhenComplete

Read/Write

If this property is set to True, then the operations automatically ends when segment is complete
SegmentRecipeName Read/Write This is a drop down list of available recipes which can be set to be used on segment start

Complex Properties

A process segment uses complex property objects to hold information about the resources associated with a task as well as OEE production settings. These complex properties can be added to the process segment using the MES Object Editor component or through scripting with the AbstractMESObject.createComplexProperty() function.

Property Object
Scripting
Description

Material Resource Property

Material Any material lots that may be consumed or created during an operation derived from the process segment are defined here. There is no requirement to create material complex properties e.g. a maintenance process segment, and there is no restriction on how many input, output or consumable materials are defined for a process segment.

Equipment Resource Property

Equipment A process segment requires one and only one Equipment complex property to be defined. this sets up production control on where this process segment can be executed. If you want to create a process segment that can occur on any piece of equipment e.g. 'Clean Equipment', set the equipment reference to an equipment class that contains all equipment.

Supplemental Equipment Resource Property

SupplementalEquipment Mobile equipment that can be moved around such as bins, containers, die sets etc. cannot be defined in the production model as fixed equipment as defined by ISA-95. The MES Object Editor and scripting functions can be used instead to create Supplemental Equipment. Any supplemental equpiment that may be used by an operation can be defined here.

Personnel Resource Property

Personnel Personnel complex properties allow to you add production control to a process segment by defining who can execute this process segment. This complex property is optional and can be left blank. 

Production Settings Property

ProductionSettings Production settings contain rate information that is used by the OEE module to calculate operational performance.

Object Functions

This object provides the following functions:


 

getEquipment()

Description

Return the equipment MES object associated with the segment. This will be the same equipment that is associated with the operation that the segment is running under.

Syntax

getEquipment()

  • Parameters

 None

  • Returns

 The AbstractMESObject representing the equipment.

  • Scope

All

 

getEquipmentLink()

Description

Return the link to the equipment MES object associated with the segment. This will be the same equipment that is associated with the operation that the segment is running under.

Syntax

getEquipmentLink()

  • Parameters

 None

  • Returns

 The MES Object Link representing the equipment.

  • Scope

All

 

getEquipmentProperty()

Description

Return the complex property of the equipment MES object associated with the segment. This will be the same equipment that is associated with the operation that the segment is running under.

Syntax

getEquipmentProperty()

  • Parameters

 None

  • Returns

 The MESEquipmentProperty representing the equipment.

  • Scope

All

 

getProductionSettingsProperty(equipmentPath)

Description

Returns the production settings property.

Syntax

getProductionSettingsProperty(equipmentPath)

  • Parameters

String equipmentPath - The path of equipment to return the production settings for.

  • Returns

 MESProductionSettingsProperty   productionSettings - The production settings corresponding to the specified equipment path.

  • Scope

All

Code Examples
Code Snippet
Copy Code
Python
eqPath = '[global]\Enterprise\Site\Area\Line 4\Filler'
seg = system.mes.loadMESObject('Basil-Enterprise:Site:Area:Line 4', 'ProcessSegment')
prop = seg.getProductionSettingsProperty(eqPath)
print prop.getOEERate()


Object Events

Objects have events associated with them that allow for custom scripts to be added whenever the event occurs.

Inherits the AbstractMESObject events. 

Sepasoft MES Module Suite