Process models

Process models allow you to identify the physical process function that a particular device controls or monitors.

Access rights required for editing and assigning process models

In order to add or edit process models you must be a member of a user group with the permission to modify Master Data.

In order to assign a device to a process model you need to be a member of a role with inventory write access for that device.

In order to assign a user to a process model (to specify responsibilities) you need to be a member of a role with workforce management write permission.

Using the edit tree

You can model physical processes in INVENTORY/PLANT ASSETS.

The edit tree supports drag-and-drop to make modifications. This way you don't have to worry about modifying your process tree later on. If you move an entry to a different position via drag-and-drop, all device and user relationships will be maintained.

To move a given context entry to a different position in the tree, simply mark the entry with a left mouse click, hold the left mouse button, and move the entry to the desired position. At the desired position, release the left mouse button.

Assigning a device to a process model

In order to assign a device to a process model, select the device in the inventory and click on Edit.

In the dialog box that pops up you can assign context data in the Device tab.

Once that you click on the down arrow button in each field, a drop-down menu pops up that allows you to select an entry of the respective context tree.

In the lower fields marked in grey you can assign a physical process association and the location of the process, which can be quite different from the location of the OT device. As a simple example, your device may be located in a control system cabinet in a particular PLC room, but the device is controlling gear outside the PLC room (and the cabinet).

Assigning multiple devices to a process model (bulk edit)

You can use bulk edit to perform device assignments in one easy step. In order to use bulk edit, select multiple devices in the device inventory (INVENTORY/DEVICES). You can do that by using the left mouse button in conjuction with the Shift and Control keys on your keyboard.

When you now click on Edit, the assignments that you make in the edit dialog will be applied to all devices that you have selected. To make you aware that you are editing multiple devices, the frame of the edit dialog shows in red.

Assigning devices to a process model using the REST API

You can also use the REST API to assing devices to a process model and location.