ControlPro v3.4
In this introduction, we’ll cover the settings involving batching and sub-batching. Look out for more articles that go into more detail on how to process sub-batches as automatic, manual, and with equipment.
The first settings to look at are the ticket defaults for batching. On the home screen, go to settings.
In the settings screen, go to the global section, then click on the components tab. In here you will see the new ticket defaults section. Any new ticket created will have these default settings applied. You can always change these settings on the ticket itself after it’s created.
What we’re looking for are the two auto-complete settings. You can set up a ticket to auto-complete after all loads (batches) are delivered, or after a certain percentage of material is delivered. Most people keep the defaults of auto-complete at 99%, but I’ve seen customers set it as low as 95%. Where that’s set depends on how your business wants to run those tickets. Changing the system defaults by themselves will not affect tickets that have been already created. To update that setting for open tickets already in the system, click the “Modify open tickets new defaults” button. This will sync your changes to all open tickets in the system. If you don’t use this button, any changes you make will only apply to new tickets created after your changes.
Below is a ticket that was already created. When you open the ticket and go to the details tab, you can see the auto-complete settings. If you change those settings here for this ticket, it will not affect any other tickets in the system.
In that same window, we’ll show you the next settings to look for. In the details tab, you’ll see a setting for requested loads. If you know the customer will fill their ticket using multiple loads (batches), you can preset those loads when creating the ticket. In this example, the ticket total is 1,200 lbs. When requested loads is set to 1, it expects to deliver all the material in one load.
In the below example, I set the requested loads to 2, and it splits the total amount of 1,200 lbs into two 600 lb. loads.
In this example, if I set the requested loads to 3, it splits the total of 1,200 lbs. into three 400 lb. loads.
The next setting to look at exists under the equipment setup. Open a piece of equipment, and you’ll see a setting called compartments. This tells ControlPro that the equipment has compartments, and it will automatically enable sub-batch mode when this equipment is applied to a ticket. This is currently no way to determine the number of compartments or their capacity, only that the equipment has compartments. When opening the equipment search window, you will see a column with a checkbox that shows if it has compartments. You can toggle the setting from the search screen instead of opening the equipment itself.
The next settings to look at are the batch settings on the system. Open a system screen, then go to the details tab. In here you’ll see the primary mixer capacity, and minimum/maximum batch size. Mixers are used in dry systems. All materials are combined in a mixer and then dispensed. If you have a liquid system, chances are you don’t have a mixer. The maximum batch size must always be equal to or lower than the primary mixer capacity. This prevents the automation from overloading the mixer and possibly breaking something. If a ticket amount exceeds the maximum batch size, then the system will split the load into batches not to exceed the maximum batch size. For example, if a ticket has 65,000 lbs. of material, but the maximum batch size is 55,000 lbs, then you’ll need to run two loads (batches). One for 55,000, and the other for 10,000. The system will not allow you to run a load over 55,000 unless you increase the maximum batch size.
Under the batch details tab, there are multiple sections of settings for batching and sub-batching. Checking the “use sub-batching” checkbox will enable the other sections. In other articles, we provide examples for automatic, manual, and equipment with compartments.