Add-on: brewmaxx Routing Management - rule-based routing orders

The optionally available brewmaxx Routing Management helps to integrate rule-based routing orders with a dynamic route search and allocation into order processing.

Application example

In a PLC, there is a user program which searches for a route to drain a tank. The user program creates an order with rule-based routing. Once the routing has automatically found a suitable target tank, the order is started automatically and controls the sequence with the suitable recipe. A route consists of the following plant sections and routes:

• Source plant section
• Source route consisting of up to four line sections
• Main route consisting of up to four line sections (optional)
• Target route consisting of up to four line sections
• Target plant section

If the routes or a part of the routes are already planned in the sequence FIFO, they can be accepted in the route engineering.

Simple engineering of routing orders

Each process area contains a sub-folder for rule-based routing orders. This folder contains a route matrix in which the existing routes are planned per sequence. Several routing rules can be created for a rule-based routing order. A routing rule specifies how the routing process is processed and the order started in the Operation Manager. The routing rule determines, e.g., the order template. This on the other hand determines the sub-procedure to be started from the recipe or procedure.

The engineering of routing processes requires a basic parameterisation of sequences with respective FIFO objects (First In, First Out)  Furthermore, a suitable order template as well as a procedure or a recipe to be started by the routing process must be available.

Integrated in the standard user interface

The application of the Routing Management extends the central user interface of brewmaxx (Operation Manager) with additional tabs in the following dialogues:

• The “Routing" tab which displays the route is added to the order list in the detailed information on the selected order. If necessary, manual release takes place in this tab.
• The “Routing” tab which displays the route matrix is added to the order processing. With manually created routing orders, the source, target and route are manually selected in this tab.

Automatic sequence

The user program in the PLC transfers the number of the routing rule to the brewmaxx server. The server then calls a database procedure which creates an order and starts the route search. The order is added to the order list in the Operation Manager with the status “Basic position”. Once a route has been found, the order receives the status “Waiting” and waits for the start.

Manual sequence

Alternatively, an order with rule-based routing can also be created manually. To achieve this, a used order template must be allocated to a routing rule. Routing is used to limit the choice and support operators. In the "Routing" tab of the order in the Operation Manager, operators either select the source plant section or the target plant section. Subsequently, routing determines the available target and source plant sections and routes. The available objects are indicated via a green flashing arrow. The order can only be started once the route has been specified. As long as the order has not been started, operators can reset and change the selected route.

Reservation

Once a route has been found, the respective objects (plant and line sections) are automatically reserved for the order. Due to the reservation, it is possible to prevent the same plant and line sections being simultaneously allocated to other routing orders. For this purpose, a routing rule can be queried in the selection criteria to find out whether a plant section or individual line sections are reserved for a rule-based routing order.