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Line Formats ​

Line formats represent the product or configuration currently running on a production line. Keeping the active format accurate is important because it determines which format-specific check targets apply, and it triggers On Format Change checks whenever a changeover is recorded.

Line formats apply to production Lines only. Groups, which contain machines without a fixed sequence, do not have line formats.

How Formats Work ​

Each line has a list of defined formats — for example, "Product A 500ml", "Product B 750ml", or "Format 12". At any point in time, one format is active on the line.

Machines under that line can have format-specific check targets. When you change the active format, the relevant centreline check targets update automatically to reflect the new product's requirements.

Changing The Active Format ​

In The Portal ​

  1. Go to Operations -> Formats.
  2. Select the factory.
  3. Find the line whose format has changed.
  4. Click the format selector and choose the new active format.
  5. Confirm the change.

In The Mobile App ​

  1. Open the Checks tab.
  2. Select the line.
  3. Tap the CURRENT FORMAT card and select the new active format.

Recording a format change in either place:

  • Updates the active format immediately.
  • Triggers any On Format Change checks for that line, creating a new check instance for each one.
  • Adds an entry to the format change history with a timestamp and the user who made the change.

Format Change History ​

The portal shows a history of format changes for each line under Operations -> Formats. You can edit the timestamp of any format change in that history if it was recorded with an error — for example, if the changeover happened earlier than when it was logged. A corrected timestamp must still sort between the entries immediately before and after it.

History corrections are available to Managers, Admins, and Owners.

Defining Formats ​

Line and machine formats are defined in Settings -> Factories. Admins and Owners can add, edit, or archive format definitions. Archiving a format preserves historical data but removes it from the active format selector. A line format that is currently active on a line cannot be archived until a different format is made active.

  • Line formats: The product or configuration label that applies to the whole line.
  • Machine formats: Specific to a machine; used to define format-specific check targets for centreline checks on that machine.

Tips ​

  • Record format changes as they happen. Delays reduce the accuracy of timeliness metrics and can result in check instances being created with the wrong format context.
  • Archive formats that are no longer used rather than deleting them, to preserve historical reporting accuracy.
  • Ensure machines have format-specific targets defined before going live with a new product format.

Expected Result ​

The current format shown for each production line matches what is running, format-specific targets apply to the correct machines, and changeover checks are created when the format changes.