This article explains how to set up a Production Entity in Next Plus — including defining its statuses, parameters, and automatic triggers that change machine status based on live data.
🔹 Step 1: Open the Production Entities menu
In the left navigation panel, go to Modeling → Production Entity → Production Entities.
You’ll see a list of existing entities. Click the ✏️ Edit icon next to the machine you want to configure.
💡 To create a new one, click the red ➕ button.
🔹 Step 2: Define basic details
In the Production Entity Edit screen:
Name – Type the entity or machine name.
Type – Select the machine category (e.g., CNC Machine, Extruder, Assembly Line).
🔹 Step 3: Configure Statuses
Statuses define the operational states of the entity.
Scroll to the Statuses section.
Click the blue ➕ to add a new status.
Fill in:
Status Name – e.g., Active, Idle, Maintenance.
Status Type – Choose Up or Down (machine running or stopped).
Status Color – Select a color to identify the state visually.
Repeat for all necessary statuses.
Click Save to confirm changes.
💡 Tip: Use consistent colors (e.g., green for Active, red for Down) across all entities.
🔹 Step 4: Add Triggers
Triggers let the system automatically change a machine’s status when a condition is met — for example, if speed drops or pressure is too low.
Scroll to the Triggers section.
Click the blue ➕ to create a new trigger.
Give it a Trigger Name (e.g., Speed Drop Detection).
Click Conditions Wizard to define the logic.
🔹 Step 5: Define Trigger Conditions
In the Conditions Wizard, set the rule that activates the trigger.
Choose a Variable (system data like Date, Status) or a Parameter (live machine data like Speed, Temperature, Pressure).
Select an operator — Equals, Greater than, Less than, etc.
Define the comparison value or parameter.
Combine multiple rules using AND / OR to create complex conditions.
⚙️ Example:
When Speed ≤ Air Pressure → Then change status to Not Active.
🔹 Step 6: Set the Trigger Action
Once conditions are defined:
Under Then, click the blue ➕ to add an action.
Select Change Status as the action type.
Choose the target status (e.g., Not Active).
Click Save to finalize.
🔹 Step 7: Save the Entity
Scroll down and click Save to store all configurations.
✅ The entity will now update its status automatically based on live conditions from connected sensors or OPC data.
💡 Best Practices
Use clear names for statuses and triggers (e.g., “Speed Below Threshold”).
Verify that parameters are correctly mapped from the connected machine.
Test your triggers before deploying to production.
Keep color conventions consistent for easy visual monitoring.