AutomationML

AutomationML (Automation Markup Language) is an open, XML-based data exchange format used to describe and exchange engineering information for automation systems. It is primarily applied to model production equipment, control systems, and their relationships so that different engineering and manufacturing IT tools can share a consistent view of the plant.

What AutomationML includes

AutomationML commonly represents:

• Physical structure of production systems, such as machines, cells, and lines
• Control logic objects and signals, including PLC-related information
• Topology and connectivity between devices, networks, and interfaces
• Attributes needed for integration with higher-level systems, such as MES, SCADA, and engineering tools

Technically, AutomationML is a container format that combines several established standards, such as CAEX for plant topology, COLLADA for geometry, and PLCopen XML for control logic. This allows different engineering disciplines to work with a shared model while using their own specialized tools.

Where it is used in manufacturing

In industrial operations, AutomationML is used as a neutral data model to:

• Exchange equipment and automation engineering data between design tools from different vendors
• Support virtual commissioning, line simulation, and offline testing based on a common plant model
• Provide structured information about assets and signals that can be mapped to MES, ERP, SCADA, or OPC UA-based systems
• Help maintain an up-to-date digital representation of the automation layer in complex or frequently modified plants

In regulated environments, AutomationML may be part of the technical underpinnings for documented system integration, data lineage, and traceability between shop-floor automation and higher-level information systems.

Relation to other integration standards

AutomationML is often used alongside other standards rather than replacing them:

• OPC UA: OPC UA provides a runtime communication and information modeling framework; AutomationML typically represents engineering-time models that can be mapped into OPC UA address spaces.
• ISA-95 / IEC 62264: ISA-95 defines functional and data models between enterprise and control levels; AutomationML can describe the detailed automation objects that ultimately support ISA-95-based integrations.
• B2MML: B2MML is an XML implementation of ISA-95 for business-to-manufacturing integration. AutomationML focuses more on engineering and automation assets, which can be linked to B2MML-based enterprise and MES data structures.

Common confusion

AutomationML is:

• Not a communication protocol like OPC UA or Modbus; it is a data format and modeling approach.
• Not an MES or SCADA system; it is used by such systems and engineering tools to exchange structured models.
• Not limited to a single vendor or toolchain; it is intended as an open, vendor-neutral representation.

Context from ISO 22400 usage

When plants adopt KPI standards such as ISO 22400, AutomationML can help by providing a structured description of equipment, signals, and automation objects that underlie KPI calculations. This engineering model can then be mapped to MES, ERP, and SCADA data so that KPI definitions are consistently tied to actual tags, resources, and production assets.