Save Time, Reduce Complexity: Why Standardization in TIA Portal Is a Competitive Advantage for Manufacturers
- elliTek, Inc.
- Nov 14, 2025
- 2 min read
How modular engineering helps Tennessee manufacturers build smarter, scale faster, and deliver consistent quality.
Standardization is no longer a “nice to have” in modern automation — it’s the backbone of sustainable engineering. In an industry where machine complexity is rising and skilled labor is becoming harder to find, manufacturers who embrace standardization see measurable gains in speed, scalability, and quality.
At elliTek, we see this every day when working with machine builders and OEMs across East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. And Siemens’ standardized engineering ecosystem — built around the TIA Portal and WinCC Unified — gives our customers a clear path to faster development and safer, more consistent systems.
Why Standardization Matters in 2025 and Beyond
Without a modular engineering strategy, every new machine or upgrade feels like starting from scratch. That slows development, introduces variability, and makes it harder to support installed equipment.
Siemens’ approach to standardization solves that by offering:
Reusable libraries instead of one-off code
Integrated hardware + software workflows
Parallel engineering through digitalization
Consistent HMI/SCADA design across platforms
This means your engineering team can move faster while maintaining reliability, quality, and traceability.
Four Stages of Siemens TIA Portal Standardization — Explained Simply
Siemens divides the standardization journey into four practical phases:
1. Share Hardware Data
Using Automation Markup Language (AML), hardware data flows from TIA Selection Tool → ECAD → TIA Portal without re-entry.
Result: Fewer errors, shorter planning cycles.
2. Automatically Generate PLC Code
Using tools like TIA Portal Openness or the Openness Configurator, engineers can automatically generate portions of PLC logic and HMI components.
Result: Faster engineering. More consistency. Less repetitive work.
3. Validate Through Simulation
With S7-PLCSIM Advanced, SIMIT, and NX MCD, teams can test logic and machine behavior before ever powering up hardware.
Result: Reduced commissioning time and fewer on-site surprises.
4. Integrate Seamlessly Using Open Interfaces
Support for OPC UA, PackML, and Weihenstephan standards makes connecting new equipment to existing lines dramatically easier.
Result: Cleaner data paths and easier MES/MOM integration — especially important as more plants pursue Industry 4.0.
WinCC Unified: A Scalable Platform for Modern Visualization
SIMATIC WinCC Unified is built for modern HMIs and SCADA systems — from small single-panel applications to distributed plant-wide systems.
Key features include:
Zero-installation HTML5 web client
A unified scripting engine (JavaScript)
Reusable SVG-based graphics
Automatic visualization generation via SiVArc
Unlimited scalability across plant systems
For OEMs and system integrators, that means one design approach can now cover every machine in the portfolio.
What This Means for Manufacturers in Tennessee & Southwest Virginia
When we help customers standardize with Siemens automation, they typically see:
30–50% faster engineering cycles
Reduced commissioning time
Simplified troubleshooting and service
Improved long-term maintenance
Better data availability for analytics and MES
Standardization isn’t just an engineering strategy — it’s a business strategy.
Ready to Reduce Engineering Time and Increase Consistency?
elliTek’s Application Engineers and Field Sales Engineers are here to help you select the right Siemens automation tools to drive your standardization strategy.
👉 Contact elliTek today to learn how to implement a modular, standardized engineering workflow using TIA Portal and WinCC Unified.
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