Flowchart-based control system including automatic downtime and cycle time analysis

A flowchart-based programming and control system comprising:

• a computer that includes a processor, memory and a display;
• a device that communicates with said computer and that is associated with a process;
• a flowcharting module that is executed by said computer and that generates and edits flowchart source code that includes flowchart blocks and that contains logic for operating said device to further said process, wherein first and second flowchart blocks identify first and second operational statuses of said process, and wherein said flowcharting module compiles said flowchart source code into flowchart object code;
• a reason code module that is associated with said flowcharting module and that assigns first and second reason codes to said first and second flowchart blocks to automatically detect relative frequencies at which said first and second operational statuses occur during a time period;
• and
• a flowchart run time engine module that is associated with said computer for executing said flowchart object code to control said process, wherein said flowchart object code generates said first reason code during execution of said first flowchart block in said flowchart object code.

A method for analyzing the performance of a process comprising the steps of:

• generating flow chart source code using a flowcharting program on a computer;
• connecting a device that is associated with a process to said computer;
• adding flowchart blocks to said flowchart source code that contain logic for operating said device to further said process, wherein first and second flowchart blocks identify first and second operational statuses of said process;
• and
• assigning first and second reason codes to said first and second flowchart blocks in said flowchart source code to automatically detect relative frequencies at which said first and second operational statuses occur during a time period.