THE APPLICATION OF MODERN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PRACTICES TO CONTROL ENGINEERING
Over the years, control systems have become increasingly dependent on custom software. As hardware has gotten cheaper, attention has focused on improving the processes associated with developing control system software by using approaches such as the Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model (CMM),1,2 and enabling reuse and long term cost reduction with component-based software development. This paper discusses the application of the CMM to the software process used in control engineering and the use of component based software development. We also discuss some advanced features of the Siemens SIMATIC STEP 7 Universal Development Environment that provides the tools to plan, configure, evelop, test, troubleshoot, document and support not only PLC programs, but also entire auto, ation projects. STEP 7 also enables and support process improvement and component-based software development.