PROFIBUS is the world's most successful fieldbus, with more than 31 million devices installed by the end of 2009. Over 5.4 million of these were in the process industries. By utilizing a single-cable ‘bus’ structure, fieldbus eliminates hard wiring in the automation of production lines, so design and installation costs can be slashed. Through better control and online diagnostics PROFIBUS enables improved asset management, ensuring lower life cycle costs, better quality and higher productivity. PROFIBUS also supports applications-specific functionality such as Functional Safety and Motion Control on the same fieldbus.