A method for configuring a modular industrial plant using an engineering tool includes using a plant engineering facility of the tool to create a representation of the modular industrial plant identifying modules to be orchestrated in the modular industrial plant. The modules include at least one function module that includes control software for the modular industrial plant. The method further includes using a module engineering facility of the tool to configure the function module for use in the modular industrial plant by editing a placeholder configuration file created by the tool for defining the configuration of the function module. Editing the configuration file causes a representation of the function module in the plant engineering facility to be automatically updated to reflect adaptations made to the function module using the module engineering facility. The method includes instructing the tool to assign the function modules so configured to the modular industrial plant.