METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A PRODUCTION PROCESS

An automation system (AS) comprising collaborating machines, Mi, to perform a common production process, wherein each collaborating machine, Mi, comprises a local memory which stores a workflow execution context, WEC, of the respective collaborating machine, Mi, comprising a workflow, WF, including automated handling functions, AHFs, which implement associated production steps of the production process and a precondition context associated with said workflow, WF, for executing automated handling functions, AHFs, by the respective collaborating machine, Mi, depending on the workflows, WFs, and automated handling functions, AHFs, of other collaborating machines, Mi, of said automation system (AS) and a collaborative workflow processor (CWP) having access to a shared database (SDB) of the automation system (AS) to determine workflow states, s, of the collaborating machines, Mi, wherein the shared database (SDB) of the automation system (AS) stores during operation of the automation system (AS) metadata about automated handling functions, AHFs, and/or a sequence of automated handling function, AHF, instances having been executed by the collaborating machines, Mi, of the automation system (AS) and workflow states, s, of the collaborating machines, Mi, of the automation system (AS) communicated by the collaborative workflow processors (CWP) of the collaborating machines, Mi, to the shared database (SDB) of the automation system (AS), wherein the metadata and/or sequence of completed automated handling functions, AHFs, and workflow states, s, stored in the shared database (SDB) of the automation system (AS) are processed by the collaborative workflow processors (CWP) of the collaborating machines, Mi, of the automation system (AS) to coordinate automated handling functions, AHFs, between the collaborating machines, Mi, during the production process.