Abstract :
From a technical point of view, it follows the principle that tight local control is often essential in achieving optimal implementation of higher order strategies. From a financial point of view it has the potential of significant savings in material cost and in addition can minimise installation and commissioning costs. The fundamental problems in the practical implementation of such a system is that unless the system is open, whereby a set of standards are agreed allowing a true multi-vendor system employing best of class principles, it can only be realised by a single vendor solution which can never be optimal and carries significant risk. This paper looks at various standardisation initiatives, both international and de-facto, focuses on the most significant, and attempts to see how the fundamental problems may be overcome
