Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Line stop
Also known as: line stoppage, line halt
German: Linienstopp
In production operations, a line stop is the stopping of an entire production line, triggered by an operator, a quality or material problem, a machine fault or a line-level command, as opposed to the stopping of a single machine.
- System integration
In one sentence
A line stop halts an entire production line, triggered by an operator, a machine fault or a quality, material or line-level command.
Example
An assembly worker pulls the andon cord when a part is missing; after the station's grace period ends, the conveyor and all stations stop as a line stop.
How it applies
- Engineering: Define which events cause a line stop, whether it is coordinated or immediate and how machines are left. Line stop functions for production reasons are operational; they are not a replacement for emergency stop functions.
- Operation: Line stops are recorded with their reasons for performance analysis. Reliable reason codes require clear categories and, where manual entry is needed, easy input.
- Documentation: Operating instructions must distinguish clearly between line stop devices, such as andon cords or line stop buttons, and emergency stop devices, including their labels, colors and effects. Describe how to restart after each type of line stop.
Line stop vs. emergency stop
A line stop serves production, quality and orderly operation. An Emergency stop is a safety function intended to avert or reduce hazards to persons, with requirements from safety standards. Where one device triggers both, its safety function must meet the safety requirements.