These standards hold the base building blocks (or templates) as well as, for coding, standard objects which can be used over a variety of different projects, removing the need of having to rewrite reusable code.
Our standards include the methodical production of documents which should be provided and/or created for every project. These include the User Requirement Specification (URS), the Functional Requirement Specification (FRS), and the System Design Specification (SDS). These outline the scope of the project, giving us information about what is required by the customer, as well as us giving the customer information about how we have interpreted their requirements and what to expect as a deliverable.
Crossmuller Training Robot Model
Crossmuller has long term relationships with both Wonderware and Rockwell and have selected these leading vendors as our technology pillars. Our PLC coding standards utilises the Contrologix phase manager, and our SCADA design standards utilise the concept of situational awareness, as delivered by Wonderware’s System Platform 2014 Graphics. Our standards also dictate the formatting of our electrical drawings as well as tag naming conventions in our PLC and IAS platform.
Model Functionality
The model consists of a conveyor model with two operations, milling and drilling, as well as a robot model which picks and places to and from the conveyor model. A picture of the whole model is shown above.
Applying Standards to Model
The model holds the programming standards for the company and acts as a means to practically and visually display as well as test the usability of the created standard objects and code. The model also acts as a home for the company’s coding standards in which all employees are able to access and take from as needed for the projects that they are currently working on.
Model as a Training Tool
The model also acts as a training tool for new employees, introducing them to our coding and documenting standards and teaching them the usefulness in methodical coding and code reuse. This enables our new employees to effectively pick up on the way we program and document here at Crossmuller. An example overview page design for our SCADA screen including a drop down menu and navigational tabs is shown below. This utilises pre made design objects as well as the concept of situational awareness which are both part of Crossmuller’s standards in SCADA design.
Our alarming display also utilises the concept of situational awareness, displaying different colours depending on alarm severity. An example of this concept is shown below.
Training manuals are being collated for both PLC coding and SCADA design which will enable our new employees to more effectively pick up on our standards.
Future Plans for Robot Model
This model as mentioned houses the standards Crossmuller has developed but will also act as a tool used for demonstration to customers. It will be used to display the capabilities of the company in coding as well as SCADA design. It will also continue to be used as both a training model and a means to test modifications to our standards.
By Remington Lim
