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Modeling Sections (Workflows)

Goals

  • Understand what Workflows are and when they are used.

  • Understand design considerations and best practices for modeling Workflows.

  • Know how to create new Workflows using:

    • Protocol Library

    • Sample Sets

    • Data Links

Key Terms

Table 23. 

Term

Definition

Workflow (Section)

Ordered collection of Protocols (Steps).

Protocol Library

List of all Protocols registered in the system.

Sample Set

Entities processed in a Protocol.

Data Link

Pull external and upstream data into a Protocol from the same Workflow or an upstream Workflow in the Workflow Chain.



What are Workflows?

Workflows are an ordered collection of Protocols (Steps), and represent the Sections of a Batch Record in L7 MES.

master_what_are_workflows_3_3.png

Rules for Workflows in L7 MES:

  • Only Standard and Sample Protocols are supported.

    • Sample Protocols can only have a 1-to-1 parent-child relationship.

Note

Pipelines are executed from Pipeline button fields.

When to create a new Workflow:

  • Discrete units of operation (sections).

  • Branching in the business process.

Design considerations:

  • Does a Batch Entity Type need to be assigned to this Workflow?

  • Who should have access to this Workflow?

  • Are there external data dependencies in any of the Protocols?

How to create new Workflows

Go to: L7|Master → Workflows → + New Workflow

master_new_workflow_3_3.png

Workflow Details

master_workflow_details_3_3.png

  • Use in manufacturing – should be set to “Yes” for Workflows that will be used in L7 MES.

  • Duration (hours) - the time it takes to complete each Protocol in the Workflow.

    • This detail, and the color next to Display Name, is used in L7 Scheduling.

  • Version – a new version of the Workflow is created each time it is saved.

    • Pin – locks the Workflow into a previously saved version for explicit use in Workflow Chains.

  • Instructions – plain text or formatted using the rich text editor in the expanded instructions window.

    • Workflow instructions appear in the Procedures & Outline panel in the EBR tab.

  • Experiment Name Sequence – not supported in L7 MES. Batch names are entered manually during Batch creation.

  • Entity Types – restricts the Entities, by type, that can be submitted to the Workflow.

Note

In L7 MES, the first Workflow in the Workflow Chain must be restricted to the Batch Entity Type for that process. The remaining Workflows in the Workflow Chain do not need this restriction because:

  • Batches are executed at the level of the Workflow Chain, not its individual Workflows.

  • Workflow Chains can only have one (1) startable node.

  • Workgroups – restricts who has access to the Workflow in L7|Master.

  • Custom Icon – assigns the Workflow an icon in the Workflow Chain builder.

Protocol Library

The Protocol Library displays all Protocols registered in the system. Once a Protocol has been added to the Workflow, it will appear grayed out in the Library.

Using the Protocol Library, you can:

  • Create new Protocols (+ Create New Protocol).

  • Edit existing Protocols by selecting a Protocol in the Library.

  • Construct the Workflow by selecting a Protocol from the Library, then drag and drop it into the main viewing window. As additional Protocols are added, you can rearrange their order by dragging them to a new position (an arrow with a green + sign will indicate the new placement).

    • Select the version of the Protocol. By default, the latest version will be used, but all pinned versions will also be available.

    • Select remove or drag and drop Protocols back into the Library to remove them from the Workflow.

master_add_protocol_to_workflow_3_3.png

Note

The same Protocol cannot be used more than once in a Workflow. However, Protocols can be duplicated in the Protocol builder by expanding the Save menu and selecting Save As.

Note

Workflows cannot start with a Sample Protocol. L7|ESP assumes that the Entity submitted or transitioned to the next Batch Section is the same Entity in the first Step of that Section.

Sample Sets

Each Protocol in the Workflow is assigned a Sample Set - the Entities processed in that Protocol.

The first Sample Set is the collection of Entities submitted/transitioned to the Workflow. New Sample Sets are introduced with Sample Protocols. This new, or existing Sample Sets in the Workflow, can be assigned to downstream Protocols in the Workflow. This dynamic feature allows the End User to process more than one (1) set of Entities in the same Workflow, streamlining the business process.

In the absence of a Sample Protocol, every Protocol in the Workflow will use the same Sample Set.

master_workflow_sample_sets_3_3.png

Note

In L7 MES, Sample Protocols are used to create an Item from the Batch at the end of production, but all data collected in the Batch Record should be attributed to the Batch.

In this section: