A state machine configurator for creating controller-executable state machines is provided. The state machine configurator provides a development environment that allows a user to define a customized state machine for control of a particular industrial process. Once the states and state transitions are defined, the configurator compiles the state machine configuration information to generate a state machine instruction that can be imported into an industrial control program to facilitate control of the industrial process in accordance with the defined state machine. The state machine configurator supports creation of role-specific state machines and embedded state machines.