Integrated electronic signatures for approval of process control and safety system software objects

A software object approval system for use in a process control system including a processor, the software object approval system comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• software stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor to:
• obtain electronic identification information representing a group of entities whose approval is needed prior to implementing a software object on-line within the process control system after a change is made to the software object in a software object design environment;
• electronically transmit a request for review of the software object to each of the entities within the group of entities;
• receive from each entity within the group of entities an electronic indication regarding an approval or a disapproval of the software object;
• and
• prevent the implementation of the software object in the process control system until each entity within the group of entities provides an electronic indication approving the software object.

An approval system for use in a process control or safety instrumented system in a process plant having one or more processors, the approval system comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• a first routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed on the one or more of the processors to electronically transmit a request for review of the software object to each entity within a group of entities in response to a change being made to the software object;
• and
• a second routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed on the one or more of the processors to prevent implementation of the software object in the process control or safety instrumented system until each entity within the group of entities provides an electronic indication approving the software object.