The integration of a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a motion control (NC) into a universal motion control (UMC) is realized by a tailored and nonetheless essentially user-configurable run-level model for processing of software tasks. This run-level model consists of types of different user levels and system levels with different priorities. In particular, one of the run levels (FA) can be configured very effectively according to user requirements. Thus, this kind of universal motion control (UMC) can be optimized by software to the particular requirements of the control task and the technical process.