Apparatus and method for determining replacement compatibility of field devices in industrial process control systems

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store device description files corresponding to first and second field devices associated with an industrial process control system;
• and
• at least one processing device configured to:
• compare multiple field device characteristics of the first and second field devices using the device description files;
• identify any differences between the device characteristics of the first field device and the device characteristics of the second field device;
• and
• determine a compatibility of the first and second field devices based on any identified differences.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:

• identifying device description files corresponding to first and second field devices associated with an industrial process control system;
• comparing multiple field device characteristics of the first and second field devices using the device description files;
• identifying any differences between the device characteristics of the first field device and the device characteristics of the second field device;
• and
• determining a compatibility of the first and second field devices based on any identified differences.