The Operator Workbench guides you through a set of predefined instructions created to complete operations required for a production batch.
This chapter covers the following topics:
Following is a requirement that customers have for a simple graphical navigation tool to manage their production processes:
Yes. Use the Operator Workbench to navigate and manage the whole production process. This simple tool provides rapid access to every part of your production process.
Operator Workbench Simplifies Navigation
Use the Operator Workbench to identify incomplete tasks. Simple queries help find batches on a wide variety of search criteria such as product, resource, date range, and entity. Simplified, single-click navigation lets you act on an instruction and enter data against it based on the requirement.
Batch records are work orders that provide a detailed step-by-step course of action to steer production operators through the batch manufacturing process. Depending on individual work instructions, some batch steps can be done at any time, while other steps must be completed before batch production can proceed. Steps can require one or more signatures to indicate the formal approval to proceed. Entry of production data such as the actual quantity of material added, temperature and pressure observed at various batch steps, or collection of quality samples for in-process testing all add to the complexity of completing the tasks that complete the batch, and must also be archived in the batch record. Oracle Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for Process Manufacturing simplifies this work by putting all the information that the production schedulers, supervisors, and operators need to manage a batch into a single application that virtually eliminates the complexity of paper record keeping. As part of the recipe development process, you can create instructions individually, or in unitized sets that can be organized into reusable procedures. Instructions can be enhanced with images, data files, and paperless attachments that assist in completing batch processing. Associate procedures to major components of the recipe, including its materials, resources, operations, and activities. Processing instructions can have associated tasks that require specific actions. Actionable tasks and each instruction can require one or more electronic signatures for completion. For example, in the runtime activity for a blending operation, one instruction can require the operator to take the temperature of the blender before material addition. A task is designed to access the process parameter for blender temperature, and another task consumes material into the blender hopper. If either task requires a sign off before the runtime activity can proceed, then an electronic e-signature is mandated. When e-signature permission is granted, the runtime activity can proceed. Both supervisors and production schedulers have top-to-bottom access to real-time production batch status. They can determine batch status immediately using a flexible search engine that displays instruction-level batch details. This provides the agility to take rapid corrective action that is fully documented in the batch audit trail.
The Operator Workbench offers capabilities to:
Identify tasks to complete. The search window lets you search the batches on a wide variety of search criteria such as product, resource, date range, and entity.
Lock operations. Take ownership of an operation step by locking it while completing the task. Unlock the step after the task is completed.
View instructions interactively. View the instructions at material level that are associated to the task such as a recipe, operation, activity, or resource.
Acknowledge instructions. Acknowledge the instructions and enter comments during the process and indicate to the application that the instruction is completed.
Navigate to transactional tasks in one click. During batch execution, a single click lets you act on an instruction and enter data against it based on the requirement.
For example, in an instruction to measure the temperature of a liquid and enter it as a resource process parameter, you create the resource process parameter entry as a task that can be accessed directly from its related instruction.
View the batch summary and navigate to related actions. Navigate to different related actions in an operation, activity, or resource such as quality, resource transaction, and so on.
To use the Operator Workbench
Create the batch.
Release the batch.
Release batch steps.
Retrieve the worklist of released steps.
Lock each step as it will be processed. See: Locking Batch Steps
Complete process instructions and related tasks.
Note: Log nonconformances through the OPM Process Execution window interfaces. Refer to the Oracle Process Manufacturing Process Execution User's Guide for additional information.
Use the Operator Workbench to search for and lock a batch step to claim ownership of it.
Determine that the desired batch operation or step has a status of WIP.
Verify your permission to access and lock the batch and its batch steps.
To lock a batch step
Navigate to the Operator Workbench window.
Select an Organization code. Required.
Click Go.
Enter any of the following to narrow your search:
Search and select the Batch.
Search and select the code for the primary Product used in the batch by Product or Description.
Search and select the Resource associated with the batch steps by the Resource name or Description.
Search and select the Lock Owner by User Display Name or User Name.
Select the Status of the batch. Enter any of the following to narrow your search in the context organization entered:
Select All to find all the available batches listed.
Select Closed to find the batches that are closed.
Select Complete to find the batches that are completed.
Select New to find the new batches.
Select Pending to find the batches that are scheduled.
Select WIP to find batches that are in process. Oracle Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for Process Manufacturing acts on batches with this status.
Select Canceled to find the canceled batches.
Important: The following batch and batch step statuses cannot be processed in the Operator Workbench: New, Pending, Complete, Closed, and Canceled.
Select a Planned Start Date from the calendar. It is the planned start date and time of the batch.
Select a Planned Completion Date from the calendar. It is the planned completion date and time of the batch.
To refine the search, click Show More Search Options, then search and select by name or description the:
Formula
Recipe
Routing
Operation
Activity
Ingredient
Actual Start Date and time of the batch.
Actual Completion Date and time of the batch.
Click Go.
Select one or multiple batch steps to lock or unlock. The batch steps display in a tabular format. Status displays the current batch step statuses as:
Locked indicates the batch steps that are locked. You cannot lock the batch steps already locked by others. Lock Owner displays the locked by information.
Lock Disabled indicates the batch steps that cannot be locked because the step is not in WIP status.
Lock Enabled indicates the batch steps that are available to lock.
Note: You can only lock batch steps that are lock enabled.
Click Lock to lock each batch step.
Take appropriate action on each locked step.
Click Unlock to release batch step ownership.
Use the Operator Workbench to:
View the instructions.
Perform actions associated each instruction.
Complete instructions and their associated tasks.
Following is an example of how to act on instructions associated to a batch. It is possible, however, to act on instructions associated to other entities.
Create instruction sets.
Create instructions
Optionally, associate tasks to instructions
Determine that the desired batch has a status of WIP.
Verify your permission to access and lock the batch and its batch steps.
To act on instructions
Navigate to the Operator Workbench.
Click Execute Instructions.
Note: You can only execute instructions for steps that you locked. If you have not locked a step, then instructions are read-only.
Click Batch Details.
Review the batch information details such as batch number, batch material, operations, and activities; and the dispense details such as dispense required, dispensed quantity, and WIP plan quantity.
Important: Refer to the Oracle Process Manufacturing Process Execution User's Guide for definitions of all fields displayed.
Perform actions such as batch update, material update, reservation, nonconformance tracking, and material dispensing.
Click Operation Execution.
Display the instruction Label.
Click Task to open the relevant application window.
Perform the transaction.
Click Save.
If an electronic signature is required, then complete it, and click Close.
Click Apply to proceed.
Perform and mark all pending mandatory instructions as Complete.
Optionally, perform and mark all pending optional instructions as Complete.
Click Apply.