Abstract

An automated industrial processing or manufacturing installation including a series of computer controlled facilities such as machine tools, workpiece and tool conveyors, and storage devices is controlled by a computer system wherein the control software is structured as a series of elemental function modules which intercommunicate by way of a high level communication interface. The functions are structured so as to fall into one of the categories job-route sequencer, activity managers, controllers and servers with a route-sequencing module controlling the sequence in which various activities are performed in relation to a processing or manufacturing job being carried out by the installation, each activity manager distributing activities to a group of controllers for which it is responsible, and the controllers being responsible for executing activities as and when they are received from the associated manager, the servers meanwhile providing general services for the other elements of the system.