Operator Workflow

How to perform and record manufacturing tasks

This guide is for shop floor operators who interact with the MES to perform and record their manufacturing tasks.

Accessing the Operator Dashboard

1. Log in to the system with your user credentials.
2. Navigate to the “Operator Dashboard,” “My Tasks,” “Shop Floor Control,” or a similarly named section. This is your main workspace.
3. The dashboard will typically display a list of Work Order Operations (WOOs) assigned to your Organization (Org) or work center.
4. WOOs are usually prioritized by the parent Order’s planned launch date and then by the operation sequence number. You should see WOOs that are in “To Do” or “Paused” status.

Starting a Work Order Operation (WOO)

1. From your list of assigned WOOs, identify the task you need to start.
2. Click on the WOO or a “Start” button associated with it.
3. The system will:

   • Record the actual_start_time for the WOO.
   • Change the WOO’s status to “In Progress.”
   • The parent Order’s status might change to “In Progress” if this is the first operation for that order.
4. You will typically be taken to the WOO detail view.

Viewing WOO Details

The WOO detail view provides all the information you need to perform the operation:

Title and Instructions

The name of the operation and detailed step-by-step instructions defined in the routing.

Attachments

Any standard work documents (PDFs, images, diagrams) attached to this operation in the routing will be displayed.

• PDFs are often shown inline within the page.
• Images are also typically displayed directly.

Data Input Fields

A form section where you will enter data related to the operation.

Capturing Data

During or after performing the work, you need to record data as specified by the data_input_schema for the WOO.

1. Locate the “Data Input,” “Record Data,” or “Measurements” section on the WOO detail page.
2. You will see a series of fields (text boxes, number inputs, checkboxes, dropdowns) based on what was configured for this operation in the routing.
3. Enter the required information accurately.

   • Pay attention to units (mm, kg, etc.) if specified.
   • Some fields might be mandatory.
4. Attaching Operator Files: If you need to upload your own files (e.g., a photo of a quality issue, a measurement log), look for an “Attach File” or “Upload Evidence” button. This is separate from the admin-defined attachments.

Pausing a Work Order Operation

If you need to stop work temporarily (e.g., machine breakdown, waiting for materials), you should pause the WOO.

1. On the active WOO detail page, click the “Pause” button.
2. A dialog or dropdown will appear, requiring you to select a Pause Reason from a predefined list.
3. Select the appropriate reason.
4. Confirm the pause. The system will:

   • Record the pause reason and the time the pause started in the WOO’s pause_events.
   • Change the WOO’s status to “Paused.”
   • The parent Order’s status may change to “On Hold.”
   • A timer showing the duration of the current pause might be displayed.

Resuming a Work Order Operation

1. When you are ready to continue work on a paused WOO, navigate back to it (it will be on your dashboard, marked as “Paused”).
2. Click the “Resume” button.
3. The system will:

   • Record the time the pause ended in the WOO’s pause_events, calculating the duration of that pause.
   • Change the WOO’s status back to “In Progress.”
   • The parent Order’s status will revert to “In Progress.”
   • The active work timer for the operation resumes.

Completing a Work Order Operation

Once you have finished all tasks for the WOO and entered all required data:

1. Click the “Complete” or “Finish” button.
2. The system will perform several actions:

   • Record the actual_end_time for the WOO.
   • Calculate and save the total_active_time_seconds (total duration minus all pause durations).
   • Save all the data you entered in the captured_data field for the WOO.
   • Change the WOO’s status to “Completed.”
3. Advancement to Next Operation/Order Completion:

   If there is a next WOO in the sequence for the same Order

   • Its status automatically changes to “To Do.”
   • The parent Order’s current_mes_work_order_operation_id updates to this next WOO.
   • If the next WOO is assigned to your Org, it will appear on your dashboard. You might be taken back to your dashboard, or the next task might be highlighted.
   • If the next WOO is for a different Org, it appears on their dashboard.

   If this is the last WOO for the Order

   • The parent Order’s status changes to “Completed.”
   • The Order’s completed_at timestamp is set.
4. You are typically returned to your operator dashboard to select your next task.

Understanding how to execute operations is key to using the MES. For insights into how this data is used, see the MES Reporting guide.