Method for providing operating data of a transport system in a machine line

A machine line that is configured to provide operating data of a transport system in the machine line, wherein the machine line includes a variety of machines, at least one transport system, one or more functional modules, and a standardized programmable logic controller (PLC) interface for each of the one or more functional modules;

• wherein:
• at least one material flow of the machine line includes the transport system and at least one of the machines, and
• the transport system includes one or more devices;
• wherein each of the one or more functional modules fulfills a specific standardized function within the machine line, and wherein each of the one or more functional modules functionally represents one or more of the devices along a material flow within the machine line;
• wherein the standardized PLC interface is for outputting standardized information as the operating data of the functional module, wherein the operating data include a status, an operating parameter, or an error message of the functional module;
• and
• wherein the PLC interface is configured to record or output the standardized information of the one or more functional modules.