Developed by the Open Group Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF), the new O-PAS Standard, Version 1.0, is designed to meeting the minimum standard and specification requirements for federated process automation systems, using an open, interoperable and vendor-neutral reference architecture.

The Open Group said that a key tenet of the standard is to adopt ‘fit-for-purpose' industry standards that exist in the marketplace today; as a result, the standard will incorporate a variety of functional elements that are already provided by multiple vendors.

"The publication of the O-PAS Standard, Version 1.0, represents a significant achievement by the Open Group Open Process Automation Forum in a very short space of time," said Steve Nunn, CEO of the Open Group.

"End-user demand for standards enabling interoperability is increasing due to the business need to reduce capital costs for process control, along with making scalability and cybersecurity capabilities an inherent part of these systems.

"This new standard will address both business and technical challenges in process automation and will resonate with many different vertical industries."

Ed Harrington, OPAF forum director said the standard demonstrates the growing need for practical guidance in the development of process control systems.

"The … O-PAS Standard will be a ‘standard of standards' to bring greater unity and consistency in how process automation is achieved," he added.

It is being published as a preliminary standard since it addresses an area of emerging technology. Accordingly, the Open Group explained it may incorporate some changes before being published as a full standard.