PackML continues to gain ground

February 26, 2010

I am sitting in the 8:30 AM OMAC session at the ARC Forum with a group of 35 packagers, machine builders and technology providers who share an interest in OMAC's PackML standard. Rob Aleksa of P&G is reviewing the business value of PackML for packaging lines and is about to review the recently published application guide for ISA TR088.05.

Over the last few days, there has been much discussion about the status of PackML. Most of the major controls suppliers (Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider, B&R, Beckhoff, Wonderware ....) have templates already prepared to help machine builders implement PackML. The latest to be working on such software aids is Mitsubishi who says that their customers or potential customers are asking for it.

One end user told me that his company has over 100 machines installed using PackML. Another has explained that they try to buy machines with PackML, but recently hired a systems integrator to reprogram a new machine that they purchased from a vendor that could not or would not conform. Many of the PackML implementations are in Asia, Africa or Eastern Europe where the global CPG's are building new capacity.

As some of us speculated about penetration, we are guessing that existing PackML machines world-wide number in the thousands. In addition to users like P&G, SAB/Miller and Pepsico who acknowledge the use of PackML, we know of both machine builders and end users who are keeping mum about their use of the standard in an attempt to protect competitive advantage.

Some have found the PackML standard difficult to understand, so the PackML Implementation Guide provides a detailed case study, including the PLC code, for one way of implementing it. P&G emphasizes that the guide does not represent the only way of doing it, but is just one example.

The guide includes a process for successful machine programming. The group in attendance agrees that this process is good one, but that in practice, they see machine builders all over the map with respect to using a disciplined programming process.

If you are thinking of implementing PackML, get a copy of the standard and download the guide from the OMAC website . Then ask your controls provider for their templates. Talk to OMAC members who have done it, If you have implemented PackML or have an opinion about why you should or shouldn't do so, let us hear from you. Respond now. Thanks.

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Comments

Keith, I totally agree.

Posted by: Anonymous on February 11, 2010

Hello Keith,

Thank you for PackML article from the ARC Forum. GE Intelligent Plaforms is strong supporter of OMAC. We currently offer PackML/PackTag application templates for our PACSystems controllers. In addition, we have started to leverage the advantages of PackTags to take OMAC to the HMI/SCADA and MES layers. Visit our web site for more details on the OEM Solutions Pack with OMAC enabled HMI/SCADA templates: http://www.ge-ip.com/oempack

Would welcome the opportunity to discuss our OMAC strategy further with you.

Best Regards,

jack

Jack Faett
Industry Manager - OEM
GE
Intelligent Platforms
T (248)262-2766
M (248)310-0140
jack.faett@ge.com
Two Towne Square 6th Floor
Southfield, MI 48076

GE imagination at work

Posted by: Jack Faett on February 18, 2010

Keith, I'm just learning about all that is going on in the packaging industry. I do not know what an OMAC is, a PackML an ARC Forum, CPG's etc. Could you please write out the entire name at the beginning of the article so novices like me can pick up on the abbreviations? Thanks!

Posted by: Fred on February 26, 2010

Sorry Fred and others for using too many acronyms. Let me fill in the gaps.

OMAC is the Organization for Machine Automation and Control (formerly the Open Modular Architecture Controls User Group). OPW, the OMAC Packaging Workgroup, (formerly the Motion for Packaging Workgroup) is one of the major subgroups within OMAC which focuses on issues related to packaging machinery automation.

One of OPW's deliverables is the PACKML guideline. PackML was one of the five original sub-teams within OPW which focused on Packaging Machinery Language: things like what does "running" mean. The PackML guideline is a compilation of the subgroup's extensive work, first published in 2002 as part of the Guidelines for Packaging Machinery Automation, and recently published as an ISA Technical Report under ANSI/ISA Standard S88. ANSI is the American National Standards Institute.

The ARC Forum is an international conference held each February in Orlando that focuses upon topics related to manufacturing excellence, including automation, controls, and integration issues in the continuous, discrete and hybrid manufacturing segments. The forum is sponsored by ARC Advisory Group, headquartered near Boston, which used to be known as Automation Research Corporation. Unlike the many vendor-specific automation shows and conferences, the ARC Forum is one of the only remaining venues in the US where users can meet with executives of all of the major controls and automation suppliers.

ARC was one of the original sponsors of OMAC and OPW was founded at the ARC Forum in 2000. OMAC and OPW meet each year at or following the forum. OPW also meets at PMMI's (Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute) PackExpo trade show which is North America's largest packaging machinery show, held in alternate years in LasVegas and Chicago. Most North American CPG's (consumer packaged goods companies) attend PackExpo and many of the global CPG's attend the ARC Forum.
All of these groups may be found by searching the web and many of these topics have been covered by me in OnTheEdgeBlog. These articles may be located by clicking on the topics listed at the right on the blog home page.

Posted by: Keith on February 26, 2010

Keith,
I continue to see a presence of the OMAC for packaging PackML guidelines within the Packaging Industry (OEM's & Users). We at Rexroth encourage OEM's to consider it as a global differentiator in a competitive market. Medium to larger OEM's tend to incorporate the guidelines more readily, wish more smaller OEM's did (might help them to reach "large" one day). We published a appplication manual for large & small OEM's alike to help implement the OMAC Pack ML guidelines into their machinery platforms using the template we created for them (manual R911322087).
http://www.boschrexroth-us.com/borexmvz2/Category.jsp;jsessionid=D77BADE5FDBA7253F222604BA96155AF?language=en-GB&publication=NET&

Thanks again Keith.

Dan Throne
Sales & Marketing Manager
Bosch Rexroth Corporation
Electric Drives and Controls Division
5150 Prairie Stone Parkway
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
www.boschrexroth-us.com
PH# 847-645-3749 Fax# 847-645-6201 dan.throne@boschrexroth-us.com

Posted by: Dan Throne on March 9, 2010

About Keith Campbell

Leaders learn from the past while looking to the future - and bring both to bear on the here and now. This is the philosophy that has steered Keith Campbell's 30+ years in manufacturing. It has worked for him in operations, maintenance, engineering, R&D, education, consulting and professional organizations--and now he's putting it to work for you--taking you to the edge of his thoughts on packaging operations.

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PackML continues to gain ground

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