PLCopen will start a new workgroup—the PLCopen Process Industry Working Group—to explore the incorporation of the function blocks PLCopen has developed for the O-PAS standard into a new PLCopen standard. Establishing this group will further PLCopen's ongoing goal to drive standization and interoperability in industrial automation.
The PLCopen Process Industry Working Group's first meeting will take place both virtually and in person in Wernigerode, Germany, from Jan. 20-21, 2026. Send an email to learn more.
What is O-PAS?
The O-PAS (Open Process Automation Standard) is an open, interoperable and vendor-neutral standard developed by the Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF) to enable flexible and modular process automation systems. It is designed to replace traditional, proprietary DCS’ with a standards-based, plug-and-play architecture, allowing components from different vendors to work seamlessly together. OPA-S is based on existing industry standards, such as (among others) IEC 61131.
Part 6.4 of the O-PAS defines a set of standard function blocks to ensure interoperability, consistency and comparability across different process automation systems. These FBs provide a reference model with standardized inputs, outputs, and behaviors. By establishing a uniform function block framework, Part 6.4 supports modular automation, making it easier to adopt open, vendor-independent control solutions. PLCopen helped creating several pre-defined function blocks for Part 6.4 of the O-PAS standard.
The PLCopen Process Industry Working Group's goals
The PLCopen Process Industry Working Group goal is to accelerate process control and automation efficiency leveraging the IEC 61131 universally adopted world programming standard. The PLCopen Process Industry Working Group adds IEC 61131 process automation standard functions, including O-PAS (Open Process Automation Standard) functions and certifications. The enables application engineers to efficiently deploy PLC, DCS and open platform controls in process industry applications. The cost of programming process automation and control systems continues to grow and is a significant part of project costs that is lowered with PLCopen standards and certifications. PLCopen standardization and modular methodology decreases training time, application development costs while reducing project cost overruns.
Process plants have a significant amount of discrete control applications in many areas including inbound logistics, balance of plant and outbound logistics. The PLCopen Process Industry Working Group harmonizes discrete and process control to enable flexible and modular process automation systems. Each supplier with unique functions that do not follow a single worldwide standard increases training, application development costs and project profit risk.
This further expands the base of PLCopen standards that enable No-Code/Low-Code industrial automation programming across vendor platforms including industrial computers. This will include incorporation of the function blocks defined in the O-PAS standard into a new PLCopen standard.
Harmonized control and automation
Harmonization of discrete and process programming solutions creates training, application development costs and project efficiency. Today, there are many ways to program applications for process control and automation. The goal is to develop PLCopen function block standards for process control functions. Function Blocks are encapsulations of variables, parameters and their processing algorithms. Similar standardization has been done with PLCopen standards developed for motion control, safety, fluid power, XML Program Interchange and OPC UA.
Today, many process control applications use PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) because the capabilities of these devices exceed the original 1970s relay replacement applications. The emerging use of industrial edge computers with IEC 611 31 runtime software engines is another segment that benefits from the results of the PLCopen Process Industry Working Group.
Many process control applications are being done using PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and the scope has expanded with more powerful PLC and embedded edge computers.
PLCopen standards and certifications
PLCopen has been successful defining IEC 61131 functions and certifications used widely throughout industry worldwide increasing engineering efficiency, quality and empowering a wider number of people in motion control, fluid power, safety, and other functions. Examples:
About PLCopen
PLCopen is an worldwide non-profit organization providing efficiency in industrial automation based on the needs of users. It was founded in 1992 and has its headquarters in The Netherlands with supporting offices in the USA, Japan and China. Members include important companies listed here.
