Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Coordinated stop
Also known as: line-coordinated stop, sequenced stop
German: Koordinierter Stopp
In production line control, a coordinated stop is the stopping of several interconnected machines in a defined sequence and timing, so that product, material and tools are left in a consistent state from which the line can restart.
- System integration
In one sentence
A coordinated stop halts connected machines in a defined sequence so that product and material stay in a consistent state for restart.
Example
At end of shift, the line controller stops the infeed first and lets downstream machines empty their buffers before stopping them one by one.
How it applies
- Engineering: Define which stop reasons trigger a coordinated stop (end of production, material shortage, quality hold) and which trigger an immediate stop. Machines typically stop upstream-first to avoid jams.
- Safety: A coordinated stop is not an emergency stop. Protective and emergency stop functions act on the affected machines directly and must not wait for a line sequence.
- Documentation: Operating instructions should explain the difference between the line stop buttons and the emergency stop devices, how long a coordinated stop takes and which machines keep running while it proceeds.
Coordinated stop vs. emergency stop
A coordinated stop protects product and process and is optimized for restart. An Emergency stop is a safety function that averts or reduces hazards to persons; its behavior follows the machine's risk assessment and the relevant safety standards.