The paper addresses the need for a step change in the design of machine control systems. A lack of standardisation currently results in machine controllers which are extremely difficult to configure, support and integrate together. This has severely limited investment in advanced automation. Based on the results of Science and Engineering Research Council funded research, a reference architecture for machine control is proposed which offers a consistent approach to automating producing functions. By utilising modern computer methods, configuration tools can be provided and used to select and aggregate control system modules. The result is the generation of machine controllers with much reduced systems engineering costs but high levels of functionality which can be readily extended and supported.