CONFIGURATION TECHNIQUES FOR A VALIDATED PLANT

A major challenge in automating a validated plant is to maximize quali ty while optimizing the time and effort spent developing and validatin g the configuration. One method to achieve this optimization is to org anize the detailed design and configuration effort into small pieces w hich can be managed more efficiently. If designed properly, the config uration can be constructed implementing reusable modules of code that are developed individually. As the reusable modules are completed, the y are tested and stored in a software library under change control. IS A S88.01 models define a structure of modular entities that can be use d to organize the design and configuration effort. The IEC 1131-3 conf iguration languages fit well into the S88.01 structures and provide a means to create, library, and reuse the change-controlled individual s oftware modules. This paper focuses on the techniques available in IEC 1131-3 to implement generic reusable software modules for S88.01 cont rol modules, phases and units. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.