Basically it is a programming language standard that originates from the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) but has been adopted very widely in the Industrial world. It is the only viable standard and therefore is at the core of an Open Solution to Control and Automation. Any standard needs a body to control it since all standards are continually developing. Also there has to be some form of independent conformance testing and the administration of this falls under the remit of the standardisation body. For IEC 61131-3, the body is PLC Open.