ASC Setup
From Adjutant Wiki
Overview
This is a guide for consultants to use to set up an ASC connection from start to finish. Setup typically takes a few hours and involves making connections from the ASC controller software to the Adjutant database.
The goal is to establish a direct connection from ASC controllers to Adjutant reading a specific set of data tables. The function of the integration is for Adjutant to pass order and bundle information to ASC controllers and to receive back production and material usage information.
This is different from AMS and Beck integration because there is no middle software (Eclipse or Connex). The link is directly from the controller to Adjutant.
ASC Integration runs off of a service called AdjAmsProcess.exe. The service pushes data to the tables that ASC reads for inbound orders, then reads the tables that ASC writes to for outbound usage data.
Initial Set Up
There are a number of things that can and should be set up before you are ready to "flip the switch". The Database Set Up section, the Item Attributes section, and the Rule Setup sections should all be completed before working with ASC for the integration.
Once you are ready to "flip the switch", then the Setup Options section, then the Coil Table Population section, then the Ready to Test section. This set up needs to be done all at once, so be sure you budget your time to get each of these done and troubleshoot if needed.
Database Set Up
ASC connects back to Adjutant using custom SQL tables that will need to be set up per customer. These do not exist by default, so David will need to create them on an as needed basis. For the On Demand coil table, David will typically name the view ASC_STOCK_WhseName
Sending the following email to support@abiscorp.com should make the ticket you need. Be sure to replace your customer name, custno, and resource ID in the tag and body below.
Please create the ASC tables needed for ASC integration on [your customer's] system.
custno[CUSTNO]
resid[Your ResID]
escalate[y]
priority[p2]
Item Attributes
For Adjutant to recognize and push an item out to ASC, it needs to have the proper item attribute (Attribute name "ASCROLL" with form "AMSPROD" in the Item Attribute Rule).
The ASC Product Attribute jump screen has three fields. There is no database of ASC items, so these fields will be set up with Adjutant data. This information can be filled out using an Excel import (download here) and shows data from the AMSXREF table.
- ASC Material: This is the material as ASC understands it to use make this item. Similar to the BOM material in Adjutant.
- ASC Product: This is the ASC name for the item you are making.
- ASC Machine Number: This is the corresponding Machine ID.
- Plant/Rollformer/Machine/Length(FT) Grid: This is used if there are different machines used in each plant. This is controlled in the AMSXREFD table.
Please note that any item and material that is interacting with ASC will need this attribute. This means that every coil will have the attribute with only the Material section filled out. Adjutant will remove the other fields and recognize it as material.
For a more detailed run through of the ASC Xref Import, See this guide. It's the same import that the AMS Xref process uses.
Rule Setup
There are a few rules that need to be set up.
ASC Process Rule (ASCPROCESS)
This rule will determine the various processes that are used. These entries are warehouse specific, so if setting up for multiple warehouses, should include each entry shown below per each warehouse. Important note: The Loctid (num 1) is the Warehouse Key number.
Everything else should be set up as shown in the image, paying special attention to which is an import or export process (Log 1 and Log 2 respectively).
ASC Printer Rule (ASCPRINTER) - Optional -
This rule will allow you to set the printers per machine per location to print bundle and carton tags. There are certain set up options (see below) that are needed to print labels from the machine based on bundling done during the S2P process.
The machine name (Text 1) must match the profile machine rule exactly for it to work. The UNC Name for the printer (Text 2) must match the UNC name for the printer in Printer Control exactly. This will be paired with the Loctid (num 1) to allow you to print to machines in multiple warehouses.
ASC Setup
You will need to provide the contact you are working with from ASC the database credentials to connect to Adjutant (reference the Cstring), but past that, all setup on the ASC side is handled by their team.
Setup Options
Several set up options are available, depending on how ASC and Adjutant will be used together. Certain things need to be considered, such as bundling, scrapping and label printing.
Below are several important options related to ASC. Not all are required - required options will say "(REQ)" next to the option. This list is not extensive. There are many more that are specific to certain customers and not relevant to a normal set up.
- ASC (REQ) - turns the whole thing on.
- ASCASSEMPWO (REQ) - enables the logic to auto assemble and complete work orders coming from AMS.
- ASCCTAG - will print bundle tags for bundles created when they are sent to AMS. This will use the ASCPRINTER rule set up previously to determine which printer is used.
- ASCPRINTCTAG - will print carton tags at the same time the bundle tag is printed if ASCCTAG is also on.
- ASCFLAGBUNDLE - uses a new bndleprint flag in ascproduct table to control when bundles are printed.
- ASCANYCOIL - will allow Adjutant to accept and use whatever coil is scanned through ASC regardless of production plant.
- ASCADDCOIL - when set, adjusts coil in Adjutant to meet ASC demand.
- ASCSKIPBUNDLE - will skip the bundle process during the S2P. Orders will be manually bundles using the scanner.
Coil Table Population
Before you begin testing, you will need to run the Purge and Reload Controller Coils process in order to populate the AMS stock table with the current inventory. This will take all the open coils for the selected warehouse, remove and re-add them so they can be processed into the AMS_Stock_WhseName table. For most customers, this should take 10 minutes or less, but it should be run outside of business hours because it does lock the itemtrack table.
Once completed, run "Select * From ams_stock_WhseName" to verify that the coils are in.
Ready to Test
Once Eclipse is ready and connected, flipping on the setup options and running the AdjAmsProcess will make the integration live.
AdjAMSProcess.exe is the process used to push data back and forth. Make sure you have the latest version from the FTP folder. Run it in a local session to test for errors.
The best way to test is to take an order with an item having the Adj AMS attribute and send it to production. The line should appear in the amsorder table (select top 100 * from amsorder). The amsorder.datesent field should get filled out as the AMS process pushes it to the Eclipse database table, ams_orderin. Once it processes from there, have your customer verify they can see it in Eclipse.
When coil is scanned from the Eclipse/AMS machine, it should verify from the Adjutant coil tag.
Tracking return usage is more difficult since this can only be done as the machine actually does the production. With your customer, settle on an order being run and track it through in the amsproduct table. If it shows in that table, verify the PWO has usage assigned and is completed. The amsproduct table should have the coil that was scanned in the amsproduct.coilmat field. If you find "NO COIL MATCH", it was not able to find the coil.
If nothing is coming back, turn off the services, and go back to the start to make sure the right set up options and tables are matched correctly.
Once you are confident that everything is set up correctly, send an email to support to set up AdjAMSProcess as a service if they are hosted. Otherwise, set up AdjAMSProcess in the customers' Service + in their system.
Troubleshooting
Q: What if the customer says they completed the job in AMS but a carton tag didn’t print? A: Look at the amsproduct table where orderno= the SO#. When the bundle # changes a tag should have been printed. Look at procdate and compare that to labelmast for that same time.
Q: What if the SQL tables are connected but Eclipse is not able to find the coil, even though it's in the table? A: Verify the xlwin.ini file in the Customer's Eclipse folder. Close Eclipse and the COMM program. Open xlwin.ini using notepad. Verify the following are set to "T"
ImportSQLServer = T
ExportSQLServer = T
CoilSQLServer = T
If they are "F", change them to a "T" and save.
Helpful Contacts
If all else fails, and you need to get AMS involved, Finn O'Mahoney is the best contact at the company. He has always been able to answer questions quickly and has helped to resolve any issues we've dealt with in the past. Finn O'Mahony <fomahony@amscontrols.com>