Sepasoft MES Module Suite
Creating Process Segments
In the ISA-95 world, a process segment defines those plant capabilities used to execute production. In the Track & Trace module, we create process segments as a template, that can then be used by an operations definition/operation segment pair to create an operation that will be performed and data tracked against. The process segment defines where an operation can take place, who can perform an operation, what materials can be consumed and what materials will be generated. Process segments can be created and its properties edited through scripting or by using the MES Object Editor.
Creating Segments with Scripting Functions
The following scripting function is provided that can be used to create process segments.
- system.mes.createMESObject
Creating Segments with the MES Object Editor
The MES Object Editor component provides a visual method for creating process segments and operations definitions. The Editor Mode property of the component must be set to Segment Operations.
Click on the 
icon to select Add Process Segment.
A popup will appear with sections grouped into Core Properties, Custom Properties and Complex Properties called Material, Equipment, Personnel, Supplemental Equipment and Production Settings.
Core Properties
| Property | Data Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Name | String | Name of the process segment to be added |
| Description | String | Description of the process segment |
| End Operation When Complete | boolean | If this property is set to True, then the operation automatically ends when segment is complete |
| Segment Recipe Name | String | This is a drop down list of available recipes which can be set to be used on segment start |
Custom Properties
Custom properties can be added here for any meta data you want to store during execution of this process segment. Data stored here can be accessed through scripting for analysis. Custom properties are optional. Refer to setCustomPropertyValues for more details on using scripting functions to set custom properties.
| Property | Data Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Name | String | The name of custom property |
| Value | String | The value of custom property |
| Units | String | The unit description of the custom property value |
| Data Type | String | The data type of the custom property. Valid options are Int1, Int2, Int4, Int8, Float4, Float8, Boolean, String, DateTime, Int1Array, Int2Array, Int4array, Int8Array, Float4Array, Float8array, BooleanArray, StringArray, DateTimeArray |
| Description | String | Description of custom property |
| Production Visible | boolean | If this property is set to True, then the custom property will be visible at the time of production |
| Required | boolean | This box is unchecked by default. If this setting is checked, then this property is a required property and if it is unchecked, this is an optional property |
| Custom Properties | To add a custom property of a custom property, select this row and click add button on tool bar |
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 | Description |
|---|---|
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 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 contain rate information that is used by the OEE module to calculate operational performance. |
Sepasoft MES Module Suite