A User-Friendly Guide to Key Industrial Automation Standards for Manufacturing Systems

Industrial automation is at the heart of modern manufacturing, driving productivity, safety, and adaptability in increasingly complex environments. Staying ahead means not only adopting cutting-edge technologies but also adhering to robust international standards that ensure reliable, secure, and interoperable systems. In this user-friendly overview, we highlight eight essential IEC standards shaping the landscape of industrial automation systems. Whether you’re an engineer, project manager, or compliance specialist, understanding these standards can help you optimize operations, ensure global compatibility, and future-proof your organization.

Overview / Introduction

The manufacturing sector is undergoing a digital transformation, with smart factories, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and advanced automation now commonplace. However, achieving seamless integration, data consistency, and process optimization relies on more than just innovative technologies—it demands strict adherence to international standards.

Standards such as those from the IEC 62541 series (OPC Unified Architecture) and IEC TS 63283 (Smart Manufacturing Use Cases) define models for information exchange, historical data access, and practical guidelines to empower organizations with:

• Interoperability across diverse systems and vendors
• Security in data access and operation
• Flexibility for scalable, future-ready production

In this guide, you’ll learn about the scope, technical requirements, and industry impact of each standard, along with practical implementation tips tailored for manufacturing professionals.

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 62541-11:2025 – OPC Unified Architecture: Historical Access

OPC Unified Architecture - Part 11: Historical Access

This standard defines the Information Model for Historical Access (HA), specifying how historical data and events should be modeled, accessed, and modified within OPC UA systems. It introduces new and refined NodeClasses, Attributes, and reference types essential for tracking and analyzing data history—vital in manufacturing for traceability, trend analysis, and regulatory compliance.

The 2025 revision brings major updates:

• Retrieval of modified events for audit readiness
• Event types signaling backfill operations (e.g., for data recovery)
• Support for referencing external nodes
• Improved annotation functionality
• Default historian configurations and flexible HA object configurations
• Support for both periodic and exception-based data collection
• Tools for organizing and accessing external event sources

These refinements make it easier for manufacturers to build robust historian solutions that meet modern requirements.

Key highlights:

• Extended support for retrieving and modifying historical events
• Clear historian configuration models
• Advanced aggregation functions (minimum, maximum, average, etc.)

Access the full standard:View IEC 62541-11:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC 62541-5:2026 – OPC Unified Architecture: Information Model

OPC Unified Architecture - Part 5: Information Model

The backbone of interoperable industrial systems, the OPC UA Information Model lays out how data, devices, and services are represented and organized. This edition brings extensive updates over previous versions, including:

• Introduction of currency and new business information models
• Enhanced support for Interfaces and AddIns, allowing for modular extension and customization
• New metadata for method descriptions (Method Metadata), session limits, and monitored items
• Portable data types for better system migration and integration
• Improved semantic versioning for version control and compatibility
• Audit event extensions for greater traceability

Manufacturers benefit by implementing consistent information models that streamline system integration, promote data clarity, and ensure system audits are transparent and comprehensive.

Key highlights:

• Modular, extensible data modeling
• Audit and versioning improvements
• Enhanced organizational structure (e.g., ordered object lists)

Access the full standard:View IEC 62541-5:2026 on iTeh Standards

IEC 62541-8:2025 – OPC Unified Architecture: Data Access

OPC Unified Architecture - Part 8: Data Access

This standard defines the core principles and models for accessing real-time data in OPC UA environments. It includes extensions to variable types, precise descriptions of NodeClasses, and introduces advanced data access properties such as:

• The "Quantity Model" for managing engineering units and conversions
• Improved rules for representing value precision, supporting a wide range of data types—including Duration and Decimal
• Address space mapping for integrating classic OPC COM DA servers into modern OPC UA models

The 2025 revision addresses common manufacturing needs by expanding unit handling, offering clarity on precision, and ensuring data acquisition remains consistent and standardized across varied process controls.

Key highlights:

• Rich support for engineering units and alternative unit conversions
• Rules for value precision and data quality
• Seamless integration for legacy OPC DA systems

Access the full standard:View IEC 62541-8:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC TS 63283-2:2025 – Smart Manufacturing: Use Cases

Industrial-process measurement, control and automation – Smart manufacturing – Part 2: Use cases

This technical specification provides practical, real-world use cases demonstrating the application and impact of smart manufacturing in industrial facilities. It covers automation and control of the production system as well as related processes like ordering, supply chain management, design, engineering, maintenance, lifecycle management, and resource management.

Key updates in this edition include:

• Expanded use case library, empowering decision-makers to analyze operational impact
• Clustering of standardization requirements for easier reference
• Consolidation of computing infrastructure and business context insights

Manufacturers use this guide to benchmark their own projects and align organizational goals with proven, globally recognized practices for digital transformation and operational excellence.

Key highlights:

• Detailed, real-world use cases tailored to smart manufacturing
• Guidance on system integration, asset management, and optimization
• Strategic context for IT, cybersecurity, and lifecycle management

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 63283-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

How These Standards Affect Businesses

Implementing these standards ensures that manufacturing systems are:

• Future-proofed against technology shifts through scalable, modular architectures.
• Interoperable, allowing seamless collaboration with partners, suppliers, and new internal systems.
• Compliant with global requirements, minimizing regulatory risks and enabling international market access.
• Reliable in data integrity, supporting detailed traceability, audits, and incident investigations.
• Cybersecure, reducing vulnerabilities associated with outdated or proprietary integrations.

Compliance Considerations

Organizations must:

• Ensure all new automation projects reference the latest standard editions
• Validate system configurations against the enhanced models (Information, Data Access, and Historical Access)
• Train personnel in the configuration and maintenance of new object and data models
• Keep system documentation up to date with evolving standard requirements

Benefits of Adopting These Standards

• Accelerated system integration across mixed-vendor environments
• Minimized downtime due to standardized diagnostics and backup procedures
• Streamlined audits and regulatory reporting
• Enhanced competitiveness in the global marketplace

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Increased operational disruptions due to integration errors
• Potential data silos or loss of valuable information history
• Fines, litigation, or loss of certification
• Unnecessary complexity hindering continuous improvement

Implementation Guidance

Common Implementation Approaches

1. Gap Analysis: Evaluate existing systems against the new standards to identify required changes.
2. Cross-Functional Teams: Involve IT, OT, engineering, operations, and compliance teams for holistic adoption.
3. Training Programs: Provide in-depth training for system engineers and maintenance staff on new models and best practices.
4. Incremental Upgrades: Migrate legacy systems in phases, using OPC UA wrappers and proxies as necessary.
5. Validation and Testing: Leverage simulation tools and test benches to validate compliance before full deployment.

Best Practices for Adopting These Standards

• Standardize naming conventions and documentation for all OPC UA nodes and objects
• Automate version and configuration tracking with new semantic and model versioning tools
• Use ‘Quantity Model’ and unit conversion features to ensure consistency in measurements
• Document and monitor historian configurations per IEC 62541-11’s enhanced templates
• Reference real-world use cases (IEC TS 63283-2) when designing new workflows
• Plan for security by incorporating updated audit event types and role-based data access

Resources for Organizations

• iTeh Standards – Access complete documents and updates
• Vendor support and guidance for OPC UA integration
• Industry forums and working groups focused on smart manufacturing
• Training courses and workshops on OPC UA and IEC standards

Conclusion / Next Steps

Embracing the latest international standards for industrial automation is a proactive step toward building a modern, resilient manufacturing enterprise. The eight IEC standards showcased here form the foundation for:

• Secure, interoperable operations
• Powerful data management (real-time and historical)
• Practical smart manufacturing applications, grounded in real industry scenarios

Recommendations:

• Perform a standards compliance review for your current manufacturing systems
• Engage with your teams to embed new models and best practices
• Explore the linked documents for deeper technical guidance
• Stay current with evolving standards to maintain your competitive advantage
• Start planning for the future—today, with iTeh Standards as your authoritative source

Ready to modernize your manufacturing processes? Explore all industrial automation standards on iTeh Standards and ensure your operations are future-ready.