Define the function first
Material Flow Control coordinates material movement between physical resources. An MFC may translate destinations into stages, negotiate transfers and track occupancy. These functions may exist in a separate product, inside a WCS or in an equipment controller. The product label does not define the actual boundary.
Assign an owner for destination selection, next-step routing and local movement authorization. Independent coordinators changing the same destination can create conflicting decisions during failure.
A transfer is more than one bit
For a transfer from A to B, the sender needs receiver availability and the receiver needs the expected load. A reference handshake distinguishes request, acceptance, start and arrival confirmation. Specify the observations that justify each transition.
A retained bit after reconnection may represent an old command. A transfer identifier or sequence helps distinguish repetition from a new request. Document types, limits, initialization and behavior after session loss.
Tracking ownership
Keep the last observed location and the active transfer associated with the load. Avoid a gap where neither side owns the load, or both consider it delivered. An empty sending zone alone is not delivery evidence: someone may have removed the load manually.
Presence without valid identification requires investigation or an agreed exception process. Reconciliation combines identity, sensors and history; it must not invent identity just to balance counts.
Worked scenario and acceptance
B accepts transfer X12, but communication fails before final confirmation. A must not blindly repeat X12. After reconnection, compare the acknowledged sequence and observed occupancy. Ambiguous evidence remains blocked for reconciliation.
Interrupt every transition, not just the initial request. Check reservation release, rejection of stale events and operator visibility. Acceptance requires coherent recovery without two authorities moving the same material.
Project verification criteria
- Assign authority over route, transfer and local interlocks.
- Interrupt communication between acceptance and completion.
- Remove a load manually and verify discrepancy handling.
Examples describe engineering decisions and test scenarios. Implemented interfaces, limits and features are defined by each project’s scope.