Abstract :
Modern programming methods provide tools to improve the intrinsic quality of software, i.e. its correctness in the sense of reliability, robustness, integrity, persistence, and safety. The international standard IEC 1131-3 provides such a tool, dealing with the programming, installation and maintenance phases of software development projects in industrial control. Basically, IEC 1131-3 consists of two parts, i.e. common elements and programming languages. The structuring tools within IEC 1131-3 are focused on the common elements, although clearly links to the programming languages are needed. The article shows that by using IEC 1131-3 in a consistent way, one can generate software code that is better understandable, reusable, verifiable and maintainable
