Extension Mechanism allows  system integrators to enhance the scope of a solution as per their needs. 5.24 offers support for static data model extensions and dynamic data model extensions.

At a glance:

• Static extension mechanism: enables users to extend new attributes and behaviours to the existing entity. Static extensions are implemented by programming and require recompilation and re-deployment.
• Dynamic extension mechanism: enables the system users to extend or over-ride behaviors. Dynamic extension as the name suggests, allows the system modification without programming and re-deployment needed.
• The general recommendation is to go with Static extensions unless there is  a compelling need to use Dynamic extensions. 

PSIbus enables communication between different applications and all applications based on SP include an additional buffering mechanism between PSIbus and the receiving application called transactional inbox/outbox. In 5.24 PSIbus Inbox/Outbox are extended with configuration possibilities.

At a glance:

• Retry on failure and Keep in sequence are configured per topic and not at global level
• Default value for Retry on failure will always be true for inbox and false for outbox
• Default value for keep in sequence will always be true
• Registering a callback for error handling incase of an event failure

QML queries, which are part of the UI Component depend on the DPML model, which is part of the business component. A change in DPML could invalidate the corresponding QML queries. With 5.24, SP developers are able to add an automated test that will check the QML queries provided by the UI part of the component against the DPML. This will allow system users/developers to fix the invalid queries in compile time and prevent run-time errors in the UI. 

At a glance:

• System users/developers can fix the invalid queries in compile time and prevent run-time errors in the UI
• QML checks not only help identify inconsistencies but also save huge amount of time by doing so in compile time

One of the main strategies to propagate the security state involves the use of security tokens. PSIauth uses a basic authentication mechanism that provides a token that has to be valid when calling a REST endpoint from the outside. PSIgui enables users to encrypt the database connection using globally accepted encryption algorithms (RSA, AES). The keys can also be stored & encrypted in PSIauth for further security.

At a glance:

• To prevent unauthorized access to the PSIbus commands, the REST endpoints are secured with PSIauth
• Choice between AES & RSA encryption algorithms to encrypt database connections
• DB login configuration by backend services, default user logins for administration tools like portainer, traefik, grafana etc. can be encrypted

In 5.24, AutoTest provides built-in capability to integrate with SP applications and execute automated test cases. 

At a glance:

• Ability to connect to Service Platform and full support for Docker interaction
• Users can capture events generated by SP applications
• Users have the ability to fire events to SP applications
• Possibility to call SP commands and health check on SP applications via Autotest
• Ability to generate Envelops in AutoTest and supporting users to create tests SP applications

Being able to monitor the PSImetals SP is a key factor in the operation of the system and determines if the system is healthy and working as expected. Although SP is a distributed system there has to be a single place for operators to monitor the system. With 5.24 it is now possible to monitor and even interact with the messages sent and received via the PSIbus by utilizing the well known Tlg viewer.

At a glance:

• PSImetals Service Platform CLI is offered as a command line tool to manage and administrate the SP
• The possibility to create Dashboards based on metrics and set threshold based alerts are also available in Service Platform based application Grafana

Further technological advancements are now available to PSImetals users. 

At a glance:

• PSIweb UI uses Ngnix instead of wildfly to save 85% of the start up time and 90% of the memory, which has a great impact on projects, which have more applications on SP, in the long run
• Migration to Angular 12 in PSIweb 
• PSImetals SP services are deployable and runnable with Kubernetes

Improved functionality in PSImetals Demand Manager is now available supporting the management of demands. 

At a glance:

• Demand Import from file: Drag & drop import of multiple demand items at once, via an xlsx file template
• Split Demand Item: Demand items can be split in two, after confirmation, with distributed quantities and quoted capacity. This facilitates linking the original inquiry quantity to multiple incoming sales orders.
• Demand Update Process: Demand confirmation process can be based on updated fields, e.g. only re-check DDQ (due date change), or re-elaborate full order (dimension change)

A new web service based integration mechanism supports bi-directional data exchange between Order Scheduler and Line Scheduler without the need anymore to close the Line Scheduler client. Furthermore, it is now possible to stat multiple scheduling clients in parallel

It is not always optimal to create separate casting programmes for separate dimensions, especially when the order book has significant diversity of grades and formats that make it complex to build up heats and tundishes with single billet dimensions. The combination of different formats in the same casting program extends the room for optimization. PSImetals Caster Scheduler is now supporting multi-dimensional casting on the different strands of a same caster.

PSImetals Release 5.24 offeres several improvements in the field of Flow and Oder Planning. These include assembly operations support, performance improvement for large datasets and PO-step based campaigns UI improvements.

At a glance:

• Enhanced planning support for assembly operations for pipe and plate producers
• Master Planner can now work more efficiently and perform quicker with large amounts of data due to the improved algorithm of data initialization, including code refactoring, modified data structure and eliminated intermediate computations
• Several UI improvements such as easier definition of campaign types based on PO groups at given production steps, display of PO-step based campaigns in Gantt chart and PO-step based campaigns in completion view

Thanks to an enhanced data loading mechanism projects can benefit from 5 to 6 times faster matching rules check, material allocation and reservation processes. Additionally, Order-to-order and order-to-material matching rules in the Planning Repository Management GUI are now also supported as an input to Coil Combiner, eliminating the need to maintain DLL (Dynamic Link Library) coding or configuration file syntax.

At a glance:

• Enhanced data loading with Direct Access Containers
• 5 to 6 times faster matching rules check, material allocation and reservation processes
• Codeless definition and maintenance of matching rules and centralized matching rules definition for all material planning processes 

From raw materials supply down to billet sawing and homogenization, PSImetals Casthouse Scheduler optimizes production schedules across all lines and resources. The tool helps to find the optimal trade-off between on-time demand completion and campaign grouping, and resolves bottlenecks while respecting different scheduling constraints.

At a glance:

• On-time & reliable deliveries 
• End-to-end optimization
• Real-time & collaborative monitoring
• Simulation scenarios
• Fast reactivity to unplanned events 

PSImetals Release 5.24 offers several Order Dressing enhancements including new dynamic Production Order Variants, PO Variants for auxiliary parts and further functional improvements.

Introduced with release 5.24, "Process Inspection" enables data collection for tests or inspections related to the production process but not to single materials.

At a glance:

• Easy configuration via Test Catalogue with dedicated Instruction Type 
• Collection of test results is line-specific, via Office GUI or PDA; target ranges are configurable via dedicated Inspection Plan
• Configurable for visualization in PAM charts and monitoring via Statistical Process Control
• Ideal for fluid analysis and environmental data

The functions of defining QI (Process Specification) and collecting process data and calculating QI for each material unit (Quality Process Snapshot) are now available for the Service Platform (SP). In SP, Quality is us-ing the new, Java-based rule engine Drools. Information exchange and synchronization within PSImetals Pro-duction & Quality is executed via PSIbus.

The Online Heat Scheduler generates and optimizes the detailed work schedule for all planned heats in the steel plant. It schedules all treatment and transport steps, assigns production lines and operating equipment, as well as forecasts required resource demands (like electrical energy and hot metal). OHS ensures the seamless delivery of heats and sequences to the caster, while balancing KPIs. The ideal scheduling tool to manage the operation complexity of Hybrid Steelplants. 

At a glance:

• The SP enables „standalone” installation independent from Oracle and base4ora via PSIbus interface
• The new Gantt supports configuration of “Secondary Resources“ and enabling of Demand Forecasts
• The Qualicision/AI solver supports KPI-driven optimization/balancing/visualization, consideration of resource limitations

Material planning & scheduling needs to know which POs can be covered by existing or expected material. However, billets and bars are typically managed as bulk materials in the yard. Allocating materials to POs often requires virtual bulk splits, resulting in a complex split and merge logic for material movements. PSImetals Re-lease 5.24 introduces a function to solve these problems: Material Reservation. 

PSImetals Release 5.24 offers some enhancements in the field of integration such as telegrams in ERP SIBB that facilitate campaign synchronization with ERP and telegrams that orchestrate the Technical Elaboration of EPR Production Orders by Order Dressing.

Introduced in PSImetals 5.24, Shift Log is a lean tool for shop floor communication.

At a glance:

• Creation of shift-based Remarks by shop floor operators of all production lines 
• Assignment of Task referred to Remarks 
• Addition of Information shared with other shifts
• Immediate visualization of Tasks and Information by selection of the Remark
• Lean user interface: Editable texts, logical cancellation & status change by click
• Alternative views via filtering
• Evaluable database