Tests Master Data
HOW TO SET UP YOUR TESTS
The Excel file #5 - Tests contains the information required to define all your tests to be scheduled by Optima.
The Excel file #5 - Tests contains 6 worksheets to define the Tests Groups, Tests Series, Tests, Test Steps and Matrix ( Tests Group/Tests Series & Tests Series/Tests). See attached file
Read the introduction to designing your master data to better understand how your tests relate to test series and test groups.
Listing your Tests Groups
This worksheet compiles your list of Test groups that will be called out from your Request Form for them to be scheduled according to all information and parameters associated.
The test groups allow the simultaneous assignment of a series of tests from a single work request.
Item / column | What / Used for |
Location Code | Refer to Excel File #1 - Site Master Data |
Tests Group Name | It is the unique name of a test group (max. 40 characters) |
Tests Group Description | This free text allows to add further information about your test group. (max. 40 characters) |
Listing your Test Series
This worksheet is used to list all your test series that are assigned to a test group and to which your tests should also be assigned.
The Tests Series have two parameters: Same Instrument / Employee
- YES: If you require the same instrument or employee along a given Tests Series, when prompted by the relevant instruments / competency groups.
- NO: If you do not need the same instrument or employee to be assigned along a given Tests Series. when prompted by the relevant instruments/ competency groups.
| Item / Column | What / Used for |
Location Code | Refer to Excel File #1 - Site Master Data Refers to the location where the Tests Series should be performed. All related Test series and Tests should be allocated to same location. |
Tests Series Name | It should be a unique name of a Test Series (max. 40 characters) It can have same name than a Tests Group. |
Tests Series Description | This free text allows to add further descriptive information (max. 40 characters) |
| Same Instrument | Indicate if Y/N when same instrument group has been indicated in multiple Test steps Yes, if the same instrument is to be used for all Tests within a Tests Series No, if it is not necessary to book the same instrument for all Tests |
| Same Employee | Indicate if Y/N when same competency group has been indicated in multiple Test steps Yes, if the same employee is to be used for all Tests within a Tests Series No, if it is not necessary to book the same employee for all Tests |
Listing your Tests
This worksheet is used to list the Tests to which you will define steps, assign employees and instruments.
The Tests have two parameters: Same Instrument / Employee
- YES: If you require the same instrument or employee for all steps within a test. Then you should also ensure that the same employee competency group and/or instruments group is assigned to each individual step.
- NO: If you do not want the same instrument or employee to be assigned to all steps within a test. You can then also assign a different competency group or instruments group to each individual step.
| Item / column | What / Used for |
Location Code | Refer to Excel File #1 - Site Master Data |
| Test Name | Should be unique. This free text allows the naming of the Test ( max. 40 Characters) |
| Test Description | This free text allows to add further information about your Test (max. 40 characters) |
| Test Comments | This free text field allows to add further explanation about your Test (max. 100 characters) |
| Same Instrument | Indicate if Y/N Yes, if the same instrument is to be used for all steps within a test No, if it is not necessary to book the same instrument for all steps of a test |
| Same Employee | Indicate if Y/N Yes, if the same employee is to be used for all steps within a test No, if it is not necessary to book the same employee for all steps of a test |
Defining your Tests: Steps, competency group, instruments group, & more...
This worksheet allows you to record all the details of your test. It should contain all the steps that need to be carried out as part of the test.
A range of information should also be provided for each step, as well as the competency group and instruments group.
If one of the last two details is left blank, the employee and/or instrument will not be assigned to the activity.
| Item / column | What/ Used for |
| Location Code | Refer to Excel File #1 - Site Master Data |
| Test Name | Refer to previous worksheet |
| Step order | Enter a Number to ease the ordering of your Steps within a Test. They should all be sequential. |
| Test Step Name | Should be unique. This free text allows the naming of the Test ( max. 40 Characters) |
| Test Step Description | This free text allows to add further information about your Test (max. 40 characters) |
| Step Duration ( Minutes) | Enter duration time in minutes |
| Calculation | Enter Y ( YES) /N ( NO) to multiply the duration of the step by the number of samples if applicable to your configuration ( the information about the number of samples is coming from the request form ) |
| Delay ( Days) | Enter the delay for a step to start (days). The step will then begin after the specified number of days from the previous step. Note that the engine calculates using calendar days and takes into account site holidays and employee shifts. |
| Can be Split | Enter MOVE, KEEP or SPLIT- see definition 1 below |
| Percentage split | Enter a double digital number |
| Instrument Group 1 | Refer to Excel file #3 - Instruments Master Data |
| Competency Group 1 | Refer to Excel file #4 - Employees Master Data |
| Instrument Group 2 | Refer to Excel file #3 - Instruments Master Data - in case an additional instrument is required |
| Competency Group 2 | Refer to Excel file #4 - Employees Master - in case a second person is required |
| Instruments Groups Logic | Enter AND/ OR - see definition 2 below |
| Competency Groups Logic | Enter AND/ OR - see definition 2 below |
1. Definition of the option for " can be split" and % of Split
This informs the engine how to proceed if no slot matching the defined duration of the step is available for the entire period within a one-day shift.p.
| Option | Definition |
| MOVE | If the engine finds an available slot that is shorter than the duration of the step, it should be searching for the next available slot with adequate duration for the step. |
| KEEP | This applies to an instrument that is expected to work overnight (from day 1 to day 2) or even over several days. The corresponding step should not have competency group assigned as the person shift would also be extended. |
| SPLIT | If the engine finds an available slot that is shorter than the duration of the step, it can be split according to the percentage assigned to the first slot. |
| % SPLIT | % value indicating the proportion of the first slot when split option has been selected |
2. Definition of the Logic about Competency Group 2 / Instruments group 2
This option is used when a second Competency group and/or a second Instrument group has been specified and offers the possibility to indicate the logic for the two groups.
| Logic | Definition |
| YES | Means that the engine will pick up one person from each Competency group to collaborate in a specific step of a test. Or one instrument from each Instruments group. |
| NO | Means that the engine will select one person from one of the two Competency groups / one instrument from one of the two Instruments groups |
Custom Parameters
There are numerous parameters that need to be determined during the initial workshop with the Optima team.
During the discussion, additional columns could be added in this Excel file to obtain your configuration specifically for your Optima system.
Here a list of parameters that can be customised, included but not limited to :
- Batching of Samples for a specific Tests Group
- Calculation of a Test Step Duration based on the Sample batch size.
- Definition of Instrument Minimum and Maximum Number Samples per run
- Scheduling priorities ( due date, stability dates, customer/project priorities ...)
- Assigning employees/instrument to a specific customer/project
- Allowing to split a Step if the engine finds a free slot shorter than the task duration
- Defining split % of a step duration to be performed in the first slot
- Indicate the engine that an instrument can run overnight ( from day 1 to day2) or even for more than one day
- ..
MATRIX
Matrix: Assigning your Test Series to their Tests Groups
This worksheet allows you to assign every Test Series to its corresponding Tests Group.
Create a line for every single Test Series to be assigned to a given Tests Group.
Series order
It is a numeric value to indicate the order of execution of your Tests Series within a Tests Group
Series Logic
Indicate if the Tests Series within a Tests Group should be executed in sequential or parallel manner. This should correspond with the order number assigned in the previous field. see example below.
Item / column | What/ Used for |
Location Code | Refer to Excel File #1 - Site Master Data |
Tests Group Name | Refer to previous worksheet |
Series order | Enter a Number to indicate the ordering of your Tests Series within a Tests Group |
Tests Series Name | Refer to previous worksheet |
| Series Logic | Indicate whether Sequential or Parallel. This should correspond with the order number assigned in the previous field. |
Example:
Test order
It is a numeric value to indicate the order of execution of Tests within a Tests Series
Test Logic
Indicate if the Tests within a Tests Series should be executed in sequential or parallel manner.This should correspond with the order number assigned in the previous field.
| Item / column | What/ Used for |
| Location Code | Refer to the Excel File #1 - Site Master Data |
| Tests Series Name | Refer to previous worksheet |
| Tests order | Enter a Number to indicate the ordering of your Tests within a Tests Series |
| Test Name | Refer to previous worksheet |
| Test Logic | Indicate whether Sequential or Parallel. This should correspond with the order number assigned in the previous field. |
Related Articles
Tests Management Section
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