System and method for identifying and managing defects in industrial process control and automation systems

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one processor configured to apply a defect rule to engineering configurations in an industrial process control and automation system, the at least one processor configured to:
• extract query logic from the defect rule defining a defect;
• execute the extracted query logic on the engineering configurations;
• and
• store results of the executed query logic as an identified defect in the at least one memory.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code that, when executed by processing circuitry, causes the processing circuitry to:

• apply a defect rule to engineering configurations in an industrial process control and automation system by:
• extracting query logic from the defect rule defining a defect;
• executing the extracted query logic on the engineering configurations;
• and
• storing results of the executed query logic as an identified defect.