Wikipedia
PackML (Packaging Machine Language) is an industry technical standard for the control of packaging machines, as an aspect of industrial automation.
The Manufacturing Automation Industry is broken down into three main categories; Continuous control, Batch control and Discrete control. The batch control industry and the packaging industry (discrete control of packaging machines) are the focus of a set of standards and guidelines that are similar but have differences driven by equipment functionality.
The primary objective of PackML is to bring a common “look and feel” and operational consistency to all machines that make up a Packing Line (note: can be used for other types of discrete process) PackML provides:
- Standard defined machine states and operational flow
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) data
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA) data
- Flexible recipe schemes and common SCADA or MES inputs
These provisions are enabled by the “Line Types” definitions (“Guidelines for Packaging Machinery Automation v3.1 available on the OMAC website) created by the OMAC Packaging Workgroup, and leveraging the ISA-88 State Model concepts. PackML definitions are intended to make machines more serviceable and easier to redeploy. PackML concepts are also finding application in the other discrete control environments such as converting, assembled products, machine tools, and robotics.
In an effort to gain industry acceptance Procter & Gamble (P&G) developed a “PackML Implementation Guide” with a software template & help files that was provided royalty-free, non-exclusive licensed to OMAC. This “OMAC Implementation Guide” is available for download from the OMAC website. The guide is an implementation of ISA-TR88.00.02, borrows concepts from ISA-S88 Part 1 and embraces the ISA-S88 Part 5 draft concepts of the hierarchical model (Machine/Unit, Station/Equipment Module, Control Device/Control Module). The OMAC Implementation Guide provides PackML implementation guidelines, data structures and a minimum set of recommended PackTags (i.e. those typically needed for commercial MES packages). The implementation guideline provides a method to deliver State Control, Machine-to-Machine Communications and Machine-to-Information System Communications.
The PackML Implementation Guide is software (ladder-based) and is oriented towards Rockwell control systems. It is structured such that PackML “States” can directly drive “S88 Part 5 Equipment & Control Modules”. Many control suppliers (including Siemens, Bosch, Mitsubishi, B&R, ELAU, Beckhoff and others) have developed their own PackML software template. As control suppliers provide their implementations, links are posted on the OMAC web site.