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Motion Control 2.0 released for comments
PLCopen OPC specification
released
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Advantages for Users of IEC 61131-3
Last updated:
27-07-2007
Intro IEC 61131-3
IEC 61131-3 is a world wide
standard. It harmonizes the way people look to
industrial control by standardizing the programming
interface. This includes the definition of the
language Sequential Function Charts (SFC), used to structure the internal
organization of a program, and four inter-operable languages: Instruction
List (IL), Ladder Diagram (LD), Function Block Diagram (FBD) and Structured
Text (ST). Via modularization and declaration of variables each program
is additionally structured, increasing its re-usability, reducing errors
and increasing efficiency. In addition, IEC 61131-3 structures the way
a control system is configured.
General Advantages
As IEC 61131-3 deals
with standardization, it provides advantages to the users of this standard.
General advantages are:
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Reduced waste of human resources |
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High level of software re-usability creates a focus to problem solving |
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Reduced misunderstandings and errors |
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Provided programming techniques usable in broad area: general industrial control |
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Combines harmoniously different components form different locations, countries, and projects |
Advantages to users
Users: which users?
Users of the IEC 61131-3 standard is a very generic term. They can be found in
a broad area, covering all aspects of the industrial market. In the whole supply
chain one can distinguish between different types of users:
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(independent) software suppliers |
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industrial control hardware and systems suppliers |
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programmers |
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suppliers of production units (machines) |
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system integrators |
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SCADA and DCS suppliers |
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end user of industrial equipment, both discrete manufacturing and process control |
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installation parties |
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(independent) maintenance people |
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(independent) training providers / educational level |
Benefits for (independent) software suppliers
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IEC 61131-3 provides a standard definition for their software development environments |
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Standard more and more accepted by their customers, creating a large potential market |
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Market is broader: general industrial control |
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Independent software development possible: hardware adaptations limited to specific part only. Creates focus to fulfilling customer requirements |
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Differentiation possible on efficiency, user friendliness, coupling to other programs and tools, pricing structure, support, training, user documentation, language availability, function block libraries, etc. |
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Multiple independent suppliers support the acceptance of the standard |
Benefits for control suppliers
Also as supplier, the IEC 61131-3 provides general benefits:
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no internal specification needed |
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market acceptance increasing: often pre requisite |
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recognition and acceptance of the company |
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ability to concentrate on differentiating added value |
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access to 3rd party modules and tools |
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increased total available market through wider application areas |
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merge path for different product lines |
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provides link between past and future (e. g. softlogic) |
Advantages for programmers
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Well structured, 'top-down' or 'bottom-up' program development |
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Provides tools for decomposing the problem into manageable units |
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Support for development in a group with different backgrounds and/or levels |
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High level of re-usability of code |
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Strong datatyping prohibits programming errors |
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Support for full execution control |
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Support for complex sequential behavior description (SFC) |
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Data structures for easy exchange of data elements |
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Flexible language selection, matching different backgrounds |
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Vendor independent software development possible |
Advantages for suppliers of production units (machines)
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Provides more independence towards suppliers at control level |
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Provides basis for re use of software across platforms |
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Higher flexibility in personnel: not limited to one system only |
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Less training required |
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Higher efficiency in coding |
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High level of re-usability reduces costs and increases confidence in planning |
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Provides tools to specify requirements at higher level |
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Better comparison between different offers, esp. software development |
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Provides link to existing personnel |
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Usable world wide, over and over again |
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Provides a standard communication tool between engineers at different locations |
Advantages for system integrators
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Provides more independence towards suppliers at control level |
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Provides basis for re use of software across platforms |
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Higher flexibility in personnel: not limited to one system only |
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Less (cross) training required |
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Higher efficiency in coding provides reduction in costs |
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High level of re-usability reduces costs and increases confidence in planning |
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Provides tools to specify requirements at higher level, providing better communication with clients |
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Usable world wide, over and over again |
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Provides a standard communication tool between engineers across the organization |
Advantages for SCADA and DCS suppliers
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Provides means to broaden the available market by integrating the control part |
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No need for own, internal specification |
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Large range of independent software suppliers to choose from, creating the basis for optimal solutions |
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Link to broad area of third party products and training |
Advantages for end user of industrial equipment
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Provides more supplier independence at control level |
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High level of re-usability reduces costs and increases confidence in planning |
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Provides tools to specify requirements at higher level |
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More independent towards system / service suppliers |
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Better comparison between different offers, esp. software development |
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Provides link to existing personnel |
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Usable world wide, over and over again |
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Provides better communication tool between engineers at different locations |
Advantages for installation parties
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Easier commissioning, through structured programming |
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Less errors, reduces on-site debugging and gives shorter installation times |
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Multi-brand control systems can be supported |
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Less training of personnel, providing flexible work force and knowledge sharing |
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Becomes pre requisite of end user in lots of markets |
Advantages for (independent) maintenance people
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Support for multiple brands possible without retraining |
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Separation between different levels possible via function blocks |
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Selection of languages provides often different views for different countries |
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Structuring tools provide better overview |
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Often on-line, case sensitive help functions provided, and support for multiple windows, providing easier debugging |
Advantages for (independent) training providers / educational level
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Supplier independent courses possible |
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Product independent courses possible |
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Better matching of theory and praxis, esp. at schools / educational level |
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Based upon up-to-date programming techniques and structural thinking |
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