OPC UA supporting the automated engineering of production monitoring and control systems

Control systems monitor and control production plants and manufacturing systems. Before they can be taken into operation, they have to be configured. To automate this process, which is called engineering, a standardized exchange format is required that forms the basis of the work of all those who are involved in the project and that is understood by anyone involved. In addition, the contents to be exchanged have to be transmitted on the basis of a standardized communication mechanism with maximum efficiency. This article will present a standardized communication method capable of fulfilling these requirements. On the basis of an OPC UA framework acting as a communication, synchronization and processing mechanism, the opportunities of the unified architecture and its application in the automated engineering of control systems will be evaluated.