T EC H N OT ES

Te c h n o l o g y

What is SFC?
Topics:
Introduction to SFC
Basics of SFC diagrams
When is it best to use SFC and why?

Objectives:
The objective of this document is to
introduce the basics of SFC. This
is NOT supposed to be a full training for SFC !! There are whole books
dedicated to this topic. However this
document should explain if SFC could
be the right language for you, and if
further training or reading would be
valuable
The target audience for this document
is project designers, experienced control engineers or technicians that have
not used SFC, but want to understand
if it would be applicable for them
The document is intended to be
manufacturer neutral (although figures
and examples are provided using
Omrons CX-Programmer)

N ote

February 2008

Introduction

almost entirely used in its graphical form which can be quick to

visualise and easy to learn.

SFC stands for Sequential Function Chart, and is a language

defined by the IEC as part of the IEC 61131-3 specifications. It is
a sequential control system language that is used for process
flow control especially for devices like Programmable Logic
Controllers (PLC).

Basics of SFC diagrams

SFC diagrams consist of a number of basic diagram types that

are used as building blocks to create a chart that describes the
program flow. The most important type is an SFC Step which
represents a single machine state or operation. Steps are
drawn as a rectangle with the Step name inside to describe the
Step. Figure 1 shows sample steps for filling a tank, washing
the contents, and spin drying.

While PLCs have extensively been programmed in Ladder Logic

for many decades, SFC is a sequential control system that,
subject to system conditions, switches from one state of operation to the next. Although SFC does have a textual format, it is

Fill

Wash

Spin

Figure 1. Steps

Steps are always separated by an SFC Transition which is the

condition that must occur to change from one step to another.
The flow between Steps is drawn as a line with Transitions
drawn as a horizontal line with the transition name and condition written. Transition Bodies can also be written in Structured

Text or Ladder logic. For example a machine stops filling and

starts washing when the water level is full and the FullSwitch
is set. The machine stops washing and starts spin drying when
enough agitations have been completed.

Fill
Trans 1

FullSwitch = 1

Wash
Trans 2

Agiations >= 30

Spin
Trans 3

SpinComplete = 1
Figure 2. Transitions

Each Step usually has an SFC Action linked to it and determines the action taken when the Step is active. Steps often
have multiple Actions defined which may be named and then
also reused by multiple Steps. The Action can run continuously
while the step is active, or just once. In fact there are many
action qualifiers defined including running the action for a
certain time, or starting after a certain time. The body of the

Fill

Action can simply set Boolean values (as below) or be written

in any IEC language for example Ladder Logic, Structured Text,
Instruction List. When a Transition occurs and the next Step
becomes Active, the Actions associated with the deactivating
Step stop and any Actions linked to the newly Active Step are
executed,

FILLVALVE: =1

Figure 3. Actions

Further special SFC symbols allow complex diagram creation. Every SFC diagram must have an Initial Step, which is
drawn as a regular Step with double lines and is the first step
to become active. For clarity, diagram connections may be
shown as Jumps, but can also branch apart and join together.

Conditional branches can be added with Divergence and

Convergence (see Figure 4) and also perform Sequential
execution of Steps in parallel. SFC Diagrams can also include
nested Subcharts like a SFC Subroutine with further SFC
diagrams embedded within.

Trans 4

Start
Fill

Trans 4

StartSwicht = 1

Fill

FillValve: =1

Trans 1 FullSwitch = 1
Wash
N
FillValve: =0
N
DoWash

Trans 2 HalfFull = 1 AND EconomySwitch = 1

Ecowash
N
FillValve: =0
N
DoEcoWash

Trans 2

Trans 2

Agiations >= 30

Agiations >= 15

Spin
SubChart1
Trans 3

SpinComplete = 1
Start

Figure 4. Special symbols

When is it best to use SFC and why?

Sequential Function Chart is a powerful graphical language

so will it replace other programming languages? No. SFC
language compliments the other IEC languages and is designed
to be used along side them. Ladder Logic still remains a concise and efficient language for Boolean logic and control tasks.
Structured Text makes complex mathematics, conditional
structures and program loops easy to create. However SFC is
designed for use in sequence management, and can incorporate the other languages in Actions and or Transitions as
required when they are best suited.
For many systems, SFC makes an ideal Top level overview of
the system. Showing the key states on 1 small diagram allows
instant monitoring and highlighting of the Active Step. Using
SubCharts allows hiding of detailed sequences, and zooming in
when interested.
At a deeper program level SFC could be used for example, handling communications to an external device where a sequence of
commands must be sent, depending on the devices response.
In short, SFC is applicable anywhere where sequence control is
required.

SFC: Better for development

As control applications grow in size and complexity, fewer

development companies can rely on a single system guru.
Multi-engineer development and even multi-site development
means design communication between developers is essential
and SFC is ideal during both the Top down design discussion
phase and can be taken straight into the programming phase.
Sequential Function Charts often follow the real flow of the
machine already known to the users. SFCs building block
based nature also naturally lends to defining detailed sub
tasks of a known role that can then be developed individually.
Using Function Blocks and Object Oriented style techniques like
data encapsulation, data can be kept private which prevents
unexpected side effects by use of other tasks, often only found
during the integration phase. This whole structured design
methodology supports multi user developments and helps
shorten development time and reduce development mistakes
- shortening commissioning time.

SFC: Better for maintenance

Because of the intuitive and human readable nature of SFC, it

is often described as self documenting. Maintenance engineers
can quickly and easily understand the program to resolve a problem. Coupled with a good design and data encapsulation this
can help reduce downtime during unscheduled maintenance.

SFC for reuse

SFC is excellent for reusing designed and tested charts on new

projects. By building a library of charts, subcharts and Actions
designed and tested for your applications, these libraries can
be reused when building similar systems with no need to retest
their sequential function. It is a common misconception though
that standard programming means standard programs and
that a single SFC program can be executed on any manufacturers system. Although there is a textual SFC standard often used
for exporting and importing programs, most hardware manufacturers require OEM extensions specific to the hardware. This
is inevitable and means true portability can never be achieved.
However the development skills for SFC are reusable, as any
tool must create the same diagrams. It is also true that the
system design can be reused between manufacturers so with
good design and clever use of Function Blocks it is possible to
minimise any refactoring time.

Summary.

Consider using SFC at the Top programming level i.e. at the

highest point of the design and the initial starting point and
anywhere else sequential control is required.
Using SFC can reduce development effort, and helps design
communication especially of large, complex or multi developer projects.
SFC is self documenting and can reduce maintenance time
SFC programs are rarely portable between manufacturers,
although SFC engineering skills and program designs are

References.

See the CX-Programmer User Manual for more information

about creating SFC diagrams in CX-Programmer
R. W. Lewis Programming industrial control systems using
IEC 1131 is an excellent book about all IEC 61131-3 languages
including SFC in detail. It assumes no previous knowledge and
covers topics in an easy style. ISBN 0-85296-950-3

More information on IEC 61131 can be found from the

PLCOpen website (www.plcopen.org) or the IEC website
(http://iec.ch) although this information can be very technical
e.g. Specifications, and not always directly relevant to control
engineers

Glossary
Action An SFC element describing the action or operation to be carried out during this step of the
program
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission,
standards body
IEC 1131 Old name for IEC 61131 before the change in
numbering system by IEC
IEC 61131 IEC standard for Programmable Logic
Controllers (PLCs)
Ladder Logic A common programming language for PLCs
where the 2 vertical connections and many
horizontally wired instructions somewhat
resembles rungs on a ladder
PLC Programmable Logic Controller, a flexible
device to perform a control function, where
the function and control logic are customisable and programmable
PLCOpen Organisation for discussing open PLC standards
SFC Sequential Function Chart, an IEC 61131 graphical programming language
Step A key SFC element representing a fixed state
or operation. An SFC program moves from
Step to Step as it executes
Structured Text an IEC 61131 textual programming language,
somewhat similar to the PASCAL language
Transition An SFC element that determines the condition
to be met to move from Step to Step
Top Down A common design technique, where the whole
system is first designed at top level, with
minimal detail, before then designing the
detailed component parts

Issue date: february 2008

Content copyright 2008 Omron Electronics