SUMMARY
Use Control Recipes to digitize recurring operator checks and quality controls during production. Control Recipes help standardize manual tasks by automatically prompting operators to complete process checks at defined times or production events, improving traceability and operational consistency.
WHAT THIS IS
Control Recipes are reusable collections of process controls that define what operators need to check during production and when those checks should occur.
Typical examples include:
- Machine checks before starting a batch.
- Shift start inspections.
- Product quality checks at regular intervals.
- Hourly process validation.
- Equipment condition checks.
Each Control Recipe consists of one or more Controls, where each control defines:
- When it should be triggered.
- What information the operator must provide.
- The type of data to collect.
When a control becomes due, it automatically appears for the operator to complete, ensuring important production checks are performed consistently.
Note: This is a legacy process and we recommend looking at setting up activities for a more streamlined experience.
WHY IT MATTERS
Many manufacturing processes rely on manual quality checks and operator inspections. Without a standardized process, these checks may be missed, performed inconsistently, or recorded on paper.
Control Recipes help organizations:
- Standardize recurring production checks.
- Improve process consistency.
- Digitize paper-based inspections.
- Increase traceability.
- Support quality and compliance requirements.
- Automatically record completed process controls.
WHEN YOU WOULD USE THIS
Use this when:
- Standardizing operator quality checks.
- Performing recurring process inspections.
- Recording production quality measurements.
- Digitizing manual shop floor procedures.
- Supporting quality or regulatory compliance.
HOW IT WORKS
A Control Recipe contains one or more Controls that are triggered based on production events or scheduled intervals.
Examples of trigger events include:
- Before a batch starts.
- At the end of a batch.
- At the beginning or end of a shift.
- Every specified number of minutes during production.
- Every whole hour.
Each control contains one or more tasks that define what information the operator must enter.
Factbird supports several task types, including:
- Checkbox – Confirm that a task has been completed.
- Number – Record a numeric value with optional upper and lower limits.
- Text – Record free-text observations.
- Sensor – Automatically capture a sensor value at the trigger time.
- Derived – Calculate values such as averages, minimums, maximums, or totals from multiple measurements.
- Weight – Automatically capture measurements from a supported USB-connected scale.
If numeric values fall outside configured limits, operators can be required to provide comments, and optional follow-up controls can be triggered automatically after a specified time period to verify that corrective actions have been effective. Controls can also be triggered manually when required.
KEY TERMS / COMPONENTS
Control Recipe
- A reusable collection of process controls that defines which production checks should be performed.
Control
- An individual process check that is triggered by a production event or scheduled interval.
Trigger
- The event or time that causes a control to appear for the operator.
Task Type
- The type of information the operator must provide, such as a number, checkbox, text, sensor value, derived calculation, or weight measurement.
Follow-up Control
- A repeat control that can be triggered automatically when a measured value falls outside its configured limits.
COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS
- A Control Recipe does not control production equipment. It schedules and records operator process checks.
- Controls can be triggered automatically or manually, depending on operational requirements.
- Sensor task types capture the sensor value at the moment the control is triggered rather than calculating historical values or KPIs.
- Multiple controls can exist within a single Control Recipe, allowing different checks to occur throughout the production process.
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