Automation framework and controlling method

An automation framework for a plurality of devices (D1, D2) in a manufacturing system for containers with food content, each of the devices being connected to respective associated control modules (CM1, CM2, . . . , CMx) having sets of control functionalities (f1n, f2m, . . . , fxo) controlling the function of the plurality of devices in response to equipment functions (EF) communicating with the control modules to activate a series (SQ1, SQ2, . . . , SQX) of said control functionalities,

• wherein, for a first device (D1) of the plurality of devices, in an associated first control module (CM1), a first control functionality (f11) is in dependence of a second control functionality (f12) in a first series (SQ1) of control functionalities, whereby a change of status of the first control functionality to control the first device is associated with a change of status of the second control functionality,
• wherein the automation framework comprises:
• a first processing module comprising first executable instructions configured to cause a computer to isolate the first and second control functionalities from each other so that the first and second control functionalities are independently accessible to a control unit as respective first (F11) and second (F12) isolated control functionalities, whereby the status of the first isolated control functionality is independent of the status of the second isolated control functionality,
• whereby the first device and a second device (D2) of the plurality of devices each has respective first (F1n) and second (F2m) sets of isolated control functionalities,
• a second processing module comprising second executable instructions configured to cause the computer to generate a set of combined control functionalities (GF1, GF2, . . . , GFp) for the first and/or second device based on the first and second sets of isolated control functionalities,
• wherein the set of combined control functionalities are individually accessible to the control unit, and
• an application manager comprising third executable instructions configured to cause the computer to communicate with the control unit to control at least the first and/or second device of the plurality of devices based on at least the set of combined control functionalities, and
• wherein the first, second, and third executable instructions are stored on a computer readable medium.