SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY TESTING A PROGRAM FOR SAFETY-RELATED AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

A method and system are provided for automatically testing a program for automation systems (e.g., programmable logic controllers) with regard to maintaining programming guidelines for program design for automation systems. A copy of at least part of a safety-related program is obtained from a development system for automation systems as a copy to be tested. The program copy to be tested is loaded into a test device for testing programs. The test device has access to programming guidelines for program testing. The test device automatically performs the program test with regard to maintaining programming guidelines, and outputs the test result.