A rise in requirements for freeze-drying documentation and processes is consistently a challenge for system control.
System control ensures a faultless interaction of all machine components and keeps records of all process data and events to meet the requirements of the American and European health authorities.
HOF Sonderanlagenbau’s control and visualisation systems offer its customers a user-friendly and process-oriented operation. They are designed to revert to existing modules, which can be adjusted without any problem, to individual and specific customer requirements, especially within the projects.
Professional planning
Subsequent software design planning is based on effective design documents. At the outset of a project, the design document software design specification (SDS) is prepared, including all annexes such as functional design specification (FDS), a plant alarm list, and functional detail planning.
During module planning, HOF Sonderanlagenbau first find out what existing modules are appropriate to perform required tasks and how they can be modified if necessary. When required, module development specifications are prepared.
The programme’s development consists of adapting existing modules or creating new ones. By means of the module test, individual modules are checked and the results are recorded in the module test protocol. In the installation and integration test, software will be implemented in the plant and the whole function is tested. Results are recorded in the software integration test plan.
Reliability, safety, and service
As the last link in the chain of manufacturing, the software is responsible for control inputs and for the timely operational availability for factory approval (FAT) with the customer. To make this possible, adherence to internal manufacturing deadlines plays a central role. This also applies to the timeframe after delivery to customer-site.
Start-up and qualification runs are carried out whose positive completion is essential for the successful acceptance.
At the same time, HOF pursues a continuous development of existing systems and individual new development to optimise specific requirements. It also includes a routine and accurate implementation of relevant software and hardware updates of the producers.
Head of software engineering Patrick Schuhmacher said: "Another important range of duty is our 24-hour service. When necessary, it is possible to help you immediately via Remote-PC."