Work Modes

The system will automatically detect certain conditions for logged in users on workstations, some of these are conditions that prevent the operator from doing any work, while others are detected when the operator is performing some defined action. The working condition on the station is referred to as a Work Mode in Eton.

Each user can only be in a single work mode at any given time.

There are several reports that use work mode data, such as the Operator Measurements report. This data serves as a one part of possible salary calculations together with SMV.

Work modes also affects the operator performance calculation. Off standard work modes, such as when work is not possible on a station, will not lower the operators performance score. Which work modes should be off standard is configurable in each work mode set.

Conditions for multiple work modes may be met at once, in which case the one with the highest priority takes precedence.
The priority is as follows, starting with lowest:

Production

Everything is normal. Activated if none of the other conditions apply.

Bundle Production

Workmode for when an operator is logged in on a bundle client and working on bundle operations.

Some special rules apply if an operator is logged in on a bundle client and a station at the same time which normally happens during transfers.
These rules ensure that time is not logged on two operations concurrently.

Station Operation Bundle Operation Work Mode Time Accumulate on
- - Bundle Production -
Transfer to Bundle - Production* Transfer Op
Transfer to Bundle Bundling Bundle Production Bundling Op
- Transfer to Carrier Bundle Production Transfer Op
Loading Transfer to Carrier Production* Loading Op
Other - Production* Station Op
  • Production also includes other workmodes that may happen on a station, such as 'Repair own Faults' etc.

Line Inspection

An inspection operation is performed as part of a production route.

Requested Inspection

An inspection operation is performed by request of an operator, or by random sampling.

Repair Others Faults

A repair operation is being performed and someone else is to blame.

Repair Own Fault

A repair operation is being performed, and the operator is also responsible for causing the fault.

Chain Blocked

When the station chain cannot move due to there already being a different carrier before it that has not yet loaded onto the line.

Possible scenarios for this happening is when the line has stopped or is completely filled with carriers.

No Destination

An operator has pushed the operator switch and attempted to send a carrier, but the destination stations are filled or otherwise not available to send to. The system will automatically attempt to route the carrier at regular intervals. When the routing succeeds, the CONTINUE message will be displayed on screen and the operator will no longer be in No Destination work mode.

No Work

The operator has run out of carriers to work with, with no carriers on any of the rails or in the chain of the station.

Change Station

The operator has keyed in the terminal command

The current user is logged out and put into the Change Station work mode. This has a time limit.

And is in the process of moving to another work station.
The mode will be active until the operator logs in at the next work place, or the timeout expires

Work Mode Sets

A work mode set is the parent container of a work mode. Each operator is both in a work mode set and a work mode at any given time they are logged in. The "normal" work mode set is called Production.

Operators can freely switch between sets, and they can be things like machine breakdown, training or a lunch break. A work mode set can modify the on/off standard setting for each contained work mode, as well as the SMV factor.

Operator can switch between work modes with command

Change Work Mode

workModeSetId

Id of the Work Mode Set to change to.

Id Name
0 Production
1 Pause
X Custom Set

By default, set 0 is "standard" production and set 1 is "pause".

Examples

Work Mode Set "Production"

Productive = true

Work Mode Type
Production On Standard
No Destination Off Standard
...
Chain Blocked Off Standard

Work Mode Set "Pause"

Productive = false

Work Mode Type
Production Pause
No Destination Pause
...
Chain Blocked Pause

If a set is not configured as being productive, the operator switch will be locked on the station until the operator changes to a productive work mode set.

In the work mode report, the name of the non productive set will be shown instead of the work mode name.

Work modes can be configured in one of three different ways.

  • Off Standard - This generally means that the operator gets paid by the hour
  • On Standard - This generally means that the operator gets paid for each performed operation, either via smv or piece rate
  • Pause - Operator is not paid