Station Control Panel

1. Module Overview

Core Function: The Station Control Panel is a dedicated tool in the LMES system for real-time monitoring and control of associated process flows, and is the preferred tool for real-time monitoring and troubleshooting. It provides functions such as process instance visual monitoring, real-time log viewing, variable status monitoring, and remote intervention operations.

• Component Identifier: ConsoleManagement
• Component Name: Console
• Component Category: run (Plugin)

User Value: This module enables operators and engineers to intuitively understand the running status of station processes, quickly locate and solve problems appearing during the production process, ensuring smooth production. Through the Station Control Panel, users can perform necessary manual interventions in time, such as process reset operations, effectively reducing production downtime.

2. Scenario Description

The Station Control Panel is mainly applicable to the following business scenarios:

• Process Preview: Through the Station Control Panel, users can intuitively preview the structure and execution path of the entire process flow, helping operators and engineers understand the design logic and key links of the process in advance, providing reference for production preparation and exception handling. The process preview function allows users to view process nodes, branch conditions, and execution sequences without actually executing the process, helping to quickly understand the working principle of complex processes.

• Production Monitoring: Real-time viewing of station process running status, including whether the process is running, stopped, or in an abnormal state.

• Troubleshooting: When an anomaly occurs in the production process, quickly locate the cause of the problem by viewing real-time logs and variable statuses.

• Process Intervention: Manually intervene in the process when needed, such as resetting the process, to restore normal production. The system will pop up a confirmation dialog box to prevent misoperation:

• Process Debugging: For new or modified processes, perform real-time debugging and verification.

• Production Exception Handling: When a process anomaly occurs, handle it in time through the Station Control Panel to avoid affecting overall production progress.

3. Function Introduction

Interface Overview

The Station Control Panel interface provides functional areas such as process status display, real-time log viewing, variable monitoring, and operation control. Through this interface, users can comprehensively understand the running situation of the station process and perform necessary operations.

The dropdown selector in the interface is shown in the figure:

The complete Station Control Panel interface is shown in the figure:

• Top Operation Area: Contains process/station selection dropdown box, view process, one-click restart, and other shortcut operation buttons. Among them, the "View Process" button is the entry for the process preview function. Clicking it will visually display the complete structure and execution path of the current process flow. When clicking the one-click restart button, the system will pop up a restart confirmation dialog box:

• Main Function Area: Divided into three core sections:
  • Key Log Area: Displays the latest important log information, each log is equipped with a positioning button for quick location of relevant processes
  • Shortcut Operation Area: Provides common operation buttons such as reset process and search
  • Parameter Signal Operation Area: Used for monitoring and controlling equipment parameters
• Process Type Tabs: Support multiple different types of processes, including common process flows and code generation flows, etc.
• Log Filter and Display Area: Located at the bottom of the interface, providing log level, keyword, time range filtering functions, and real-time display of various process running logs
• Real-time Update Mechanism: Data in all areas supports real-time updates, ensuring users obtain the latest equipment status information

3.1 Real-time Log Monitoring

The Station Control Panel provides powerful real-time log monitoring functions, which is the core tool for troubleshooting.

The log monitoring area is shown in the figure:

• Log Type: The console will push all logs of the current station associated process in real-time, including flowlog (process logic log), tracelog (traceability data log), and warnlog (warning/error log).
• Real-time Update: Logs are automatically updated in real-time without manual file refresh.
• Error Identification: Error messages are displayed in red in the warning log window, facilitating users to quickly identify problems.
• Process Tracking: Through the process log window, users can view detailed steps of process execution, locate the last successfully executed log, and thereby judge the problem point.

In actual operation, when an anomaly occurs, the log monitoring area will display detailed error information, for example:

When clicking the "Locate" button in the key log area, the system will automatically fill the instance ID into the search box, facilitating users to quickly locate relevant logs.

• Log Filter Function: The interface provides various filtering tools, including log level dropdown box (select logs of different severity), keyword search box, time range selector, and node name filter, helping users quickly locate required log information.
• Log Display Format: Each log contains timestamp, log level, process type identifier, and detailed log content, clearly displaying process running status and exception information.
• Multi-Process Type Support: Support simultaneous monitoring of logs for multiple process types, including common process flows and PLC simulation flows, etc.
• Real-time/Non-real-time Mode Switching: A "Real-time" switch is provided in the lower right corner of the interface, enabled by default. When enabled, logs update automatically in real-time; when disabled, logs stop automatic refreshing, allowing users to focus on viewing historical log information.
• Log Retrieval Function: Through the combination of log level, keyword, and time range filtering, specific condition logs can be precisely retrieved. After setting filter conditions, click the "Search" button to execute the retrieval operation.

3.2 Variable Real-time Monitoring

The variable real-time monitoring function allows users to view the current values and changes of all PLC variables defined in the process in real-time.

• Real-time Update: Variable values are updated in real-time, reflecting the latest status of the equipment.
• Status Judgment: By observing the variable monitoring area, users can check whether PLC signals change as expected and judge whether the process is executing normally.
• Troubleshooting: When a process anomaly occurs, variable monitoring can help users determine whether the problem is caused by equipment signal anomalies.

The variable monitoring area is shown in the figure:

• Parameter Signal Operation Area: Contains 14 key parameters such as InStationSignal, ProductCode, OutStationSignal, etc., each equipped with a dispatch button supporting manual intervention of parameter values. Under the common process flow tab, the parameter signal operation area contains 14 parameters such as InStationSignal, InStationProductCode, etc.
• Multi-Variable Monitoring: Support simultaneous monitoring of 37 variables, including input signals like InStationSignal1 and output signals like OutStationSignal.
• Write Permission Support: Some variables have write permission, allowing users to modify variable values as needed to achieve precise control of equipment.
• Parameter Dispatch Function: For variables with write permission, users can directly click the "Dispatch" button of the corresponding parameter on the interface, manually modify and dispatch the variable value to the PLC, achieving remote control and intervention of the equipment. This is particularly useful in emergency situations or testing phases.

3.3 Process Status Visualization

The Station Control Panel provides clear process status visualization functions, allowing users to intuitively understand the current status of the process.

• Status Indication: Clearly displays whether the current process is running, stopped, or in an abnormal state.
• Process Instance ID: Displays the instance ID of the current process, facilitating users to precisely trace all relevant logs of a single process execution in the logs.
• Key Log Display: The system displays important exception information in the key log area and provides a positioning button, facilitating users to quickly find relevant logs.

3.4 Remote Control Operation

The Station Control Panel allows operators or engineers to perform remote control operations on the process directly from the interface.

• Process Reset: When a process anomaly occurs or needs to be restarted, the process can be reset through the Station Control Panel. After clicking the reset button, the system will pop up a confirmation dialog box to prevent misoperation.
• Optimized Reset: Optimized reset process ensures that after updating the process steps, the reset can obtain the latest process information.
• Process Instance Record: Added process running record function, providing process instance records for the last seven days, facilitating troubleshooting of problems existing during process running.

4. Operation Guide

4.1 Entering Station Control Panel

1. Enter the LMES system via software run URL.
2. Navigate to Production Operation Management -> Process Control -> Station Control Panel module.
3. Select the station to be monitored.

The system settings modal is shown in the figure:

4.2 Troubleshooting Steps

When an outbound process problem occurs, you can follow these steps to troubleshoot:

The complete Station Control Panel interface is shown in the figure:

1. Open Station Control Panel: Enter the console interface of the corresponding station.
2. View Key Logs: First check the key log area at the top of the interface to quickly understand if there is any exception information.
3. Filter and Analyze Detailed Logs:
   • In the bottom log filter area, use the log level dropdown box to select "Error" or "Warning" type to quickly locate problem logs.
   • Enter keywords or select a specific time range to narrow the search scope.
   • View detailed steps of process execution, locate the last successfully executed log, and judge the problem point.
   • If necessary, click the "Real-time" switch in the lower right corner of the interface to toggle log real-time update status. After closing real-time mode, it is more convenient to view and analyze historical logs without being affected by constant refreshing of new logs.
4. Check Variable Status: Observe the variable monitoring area, check whether PLC signals (such as InStationSignal, OutStationSignal, etc.) change as expected.
5. Perform Necessary Intervention: Based on troubleshooting results, perform corresponding processing, such as resetting the process.

4.3 Reset Process Operation

When the process needs to be reset, follow these steps:

1. In the Station Control Panel interface, find the reset button.

2. Click the reset button, the system will prompt for confirmation and pop up a confirmation dialog box containing a remark input box:

   

3. After entering remark information, click the confirm button, and the process will be reset to the initial state.

Note: Resetting the process will interrupt the currently executing process, please ensure to operate at an appropriate time.

4.4 Parameter Dispatch Operation

When manual intervention of equipment parameters is needed, operate through the parameter dispatch function:

The parameter dispatch dialog box is shown in the figure:

1. In the parameter signal operation area, find the parameter item to be modified.
2. Confirm that the parameter has write permission (displayed as "Read/Write" in the "Type" column).
3. Click the "Dispatch" button on the right side of the corresponding parameter.
4. In the popped-up dialog box, enter the new parameter value and remark information.
5. After confirming correctness, click the "Confirm" button, and the system will dispatch the new parameter value to the PLC.

For example, when clicking the dispatch button for the "InStationSignal" parameter, the following dialog box will pop up:

Note: Parameter dispatch operations may directly affect the running status of the equipment, please ensure that you fully understand the meaning and possible impact of the parameter before operating.

5. Best Practices and Precautions

5.1 Process Type Tab Function

The LMES system supports multiple process types, and users can view parameters and statuses of different processes by switching tabs:

• Common Process Flow: Contains 14 parameters such as InStationSignal, InStationProductCode, etc.

The Common Process Flow tab interface is shown in the figure:

• Generate Code Flow: Contains 4 parameters such as GenerateCodeTriggerSignal, ProductIdentificationCode, etc.

Different process type tabs can help users precisely monitor and control different production links. The Generate Code Flow tab interface is shown in the figure:

Best Practices

• Real-time Monitoring: It is recommended to continuously monitor the Station Control Panel during the production process to discover and solve problems in time.
• Regular Check: Regularly check process running records to understand process running conditions.
• Troubleshooting: When a problem occurs, prioritize using the Station Control Panel for troubleshooting instead of directly viewing log files.
• Process Debugging: For new or modified processes, use the Station Control Panel for real-time debugging to ensure normal process operation.
• Log Mode Selection: When performing detailed log analysis, it is recommended to turn off real-time mode to focus on viewing and analyzing historical logs. After analysis is complete, remember to re-enable real-time mode to monitor the latest status.
• Parameter Intervention: In emergency situations, rational use of parameter dispatch function can quickly solve some simple equipment problems, but the principle of minimum intervention should be followed.

Precautions

• Permission Control: Station Control Panel operations may affect the production process, please ensure only authorized personnel can operate.
• Operation Caution: When performing operations such as process reset, please confirm the necessity and safety of the operation.
• Data Saving: Before resetting the process, please ensure necessary data and records are saved.
• Parameter Dispatch Safety: Before performing parameter dispatch operations, be sure to confirm the parameter meaning and expected impact. It is recommended to perform parameter debugging during non-production peak periods or in test environments to avoid adverse effects on production.

6. Appendix

Terminology Explanation

• Process Instance: A specific execution process of a flow.
• PLC Variable: Variable in Programmable Logic Controller used to control and monitor equipment status.
• Process Log: Detailed information recording process execution.
• Reset Process: Operation to restore the process to its initial state.