When creating new operations, they are categorized into one of the types below.
Loading
A loading operation happens when an operator attaches materials to the carrier. This can only be done on a station that is set up as a loading station, and is always the first operation in a production route.
Used in route types
Bundling
💡 Only available with a Bundle Tracking license.
The bundling operation is the equivalent of a loading operation, but for Bundle Routes.
Bundling must be the first operation in a bundle route.
- User scans a QR code, can be a reusable code or a one time generated code.
- If the QR code ends with an X, this indicates a 'smart barcode'. These are printed directly from Eton Ingenious and have a pre-association with an order line, allowing the next step to be skipped.
- For non smart barcodes, the operator must enter the order and order line of the production order we want to start.
- Next, the operator has to determine the number of pieces that goes into the bundle. When that is done, the operation can be completed.
Used in route types
Unloading
The unloading is the final step of a production route, where materials are removed from the carrier and the empty carrier is then returned to the loading stations. Every production route is required to have an unloading operation or a Transfer to Bundle as the final step.
The unloading operation will increase the orderline Done counter.
Used in route types
Inspection
An inspection operation is where an operator inspects the product for defects and potentially registers a fault. Depending on the type of fault the carrier can then go on a repair route, be rejected and return as an empty carrier, or continue on in the production route without action.
Inspections are either part of a production route (line inspection), requested by an operator via terminal command or sent to inspection via random sampling.
Used in route types
Buffer
Buffer operations are unmanned operations that are performed automatically on a buffer station. The buffer station needs to be configured with a buffer logic before any carriers will be processed. Buffer operations can be used in any route type except for bundle routes.
General
The general type is used for all operations in a production route that does not fit into any of the other above categories.
Repair
After a fault that can be repaired has been registered on an inspection operation, or by an ad-hoc inspection, the carrier is sent on a repair route to make the necessary repairs. Depending on how the fault is configured, we will either perform the same operation(s) again on any station in the original route, or send it to a station dedicated to repairing faults. When used on a dedicated repair station, the repair operation type should be used.
Used in route types
Return Empty Carrier
This is a special type of operation, that is automatically performed when the carrier reaches a loading station. It should be the last operation in a Return Empty Carrier route. Every production route needs to have a Return Empty Carrier route configured.
Used in route types
Examine
Examine an empty carrier for damage, take it out of the system or repair it if there is a problem.
Used in route types
Reject
A reject operation is similar to an unloading, but only used for defect products that should be scrapped. The operator should remove all (or some products from the carrier, depending on how the fault was registered). If all products are removed it will then continue with the empty carrier route. If there are remaining products after the reject operation, the carrier will continue the production route with the remaining pieces.
A reject operation will not increase any of the orderline counters.
Used in route types
Transfer To Carrier
💡 Only available with a Bundle Tracking license.
A transfer operation is a connecting operation between bundle tracking and production in Eton. The Transfer to Carrier operation is done on the bundle at the same time as the loading operation is done on the carrier(s). Usually one bundle is loaded to multiple carriers, but this doesn't always have to be the case.
This can be only put as the last operation in a Bundle route. This operation has an extra setting, which is the production route it should transfer to.
Work Modes and Transfer Operations
Since the operator is doing two operations at once, we don't want to track double the work time. How it works in this case is that whenever there is an active loading operation, the logged work mode will follow the state on the loading station. If there is no ongoing loading operation and we are in a transfer operation, the work mode will instead be set to "Bundle Production".
Transfer to Bundle
💡 Only available with a Bundle Tracking license.
Like Transfer to Carrier this is also a connecting operation between Eton and bundle tracking. In this case we are going from production in Eton to bundle production.
The Transfer to Bundle operation is performed at the same time as the Bundling operation on the new bundle. It replaces an Unloading operation as the last operation in a Production Route.
This operation type has an extra setting, which is the Bundle Route that the product should continue on.