PLC Asset Oriented Programming and Libraries

Asset-Oriented Programming (AOP) is a modern paradigm that structures your automation code around reusable, self-contained units of functionality known as Assets. Instead of writing monolithic, project-specific code from scratch, AOP empowers you to build systems from a library of proven, modular components.

How AOP Works in Practice

An Asset encapsulates a specific piece of automation logic—such as a PID loop, a motor starter, or a valve manifold—into a standardized block (e.g., an AOI, Function Block, or Function). This block includes its own logic, parameters, and often a dedicated HMI faceplate, making it a complete and instantly deployable solution.

The Benefits of an AOP Approach

• Unmatched Modularity: Changes and updates are confined to a single asset, dramatically simplifying maintenance and reducing the risk of errors propagating through your codebase.
• Maximum Code Reuse: Develop a function once and deploy it in a multiple instances, even across multiple projects. This standardization ensures every motor or valve in your facility behaves identically, simplifying operator training and troubleshooting.
• Enhanced Scalability: Manage the complexity of large-scale systems by breaking them down into manageable, well-defined assets. Adding new machinery becomes a process of configuration, not complex programming.
• Superior Quality & Reliability: Every asset in your library shall be thoroughly tested component. This foundation of proven code significantly increases the overall reliability and reduces the debugging time of new projects.

By adopting AOP, you shift your focus from repetitive low-level coding to high-level system design and configuration, accelerating development and ensuring unparalleled consistency.

An Asset Library is the tangible realization of the AOP philosophy. It is your company's curated collection of intelligent, reusable automation components. Think of it not just as code, but as your most valuable digital intellectual property - a force multiplier for your engineering team.

This living library shall contain contain pre-built, documented, and tested assets for every common element in your systems: motors, valves, pumps, analog signals, PID loops, and even complex state machines for sequences.

Why Creating an Asset Libraries?

1. Dramatically Accelerated Time-to-Market: New projects are built by assembling and configuring pre-existing assets, slashing development and testing time by up to 70%.
2. Guaranteed Consistency and Quality: Enforce best practices and naming conventions across all projects and engineers, eliminating variability and hidden bugs.
3. Radically Simplified Maintenance: Troubleshooting and upgrades are streamlined. A fix or improvement to a library asset automatically benefits every control system that uses it.
4. Knowledge Capture and Retention: The expertise of your senior engineers is encoded into the library, protecting your company from knowledge loss and making onboarding new team members faster.

A well-designed Asset Library transforms your automation workflow from a custom craft into a streamlined, scalable manufacturing process for code.

A Library Block (or Asset) is the fundamental building block of your library. It is more than a subroutine; it is a fully realized, application-ready component designed for reuse.

Key Advantages of Library Asset

• Encapsulated Functionality: It contains all the logic, alarms, and simulations for a specific device or function.
• Standardized Interface: Clear and consistent input/output parameters make it easy to configure and connect to other assets.
• Integrated HMI Components: Many assets include a corresponding HMI faceplate, ensuring the operator interface is as consistent and reusable as the logic.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Inline comments and external manuals provide clear guidance on usage, parameters, and examples, making it easy for any team member to use correctly.

Embracing AOP doesn't mean you have to start from zero. The community offers powerful public libraries that provide an excellent foundation and demonstrate the principles of reusable code in action.

We are providing Siemens Open Library, provided and hosted by DMC Inc. under their permissive open-source license.

These libraries are a fantastic resource to learn best practices, accelerate initial development, and understand the scope of what's possible with a well-structured asset library.