1. An operator panel having at least one processor for executing one or more applications for operating at least one production system, including: a configuration data memory configured to store configuration data that are provided for configuring the one or more applications of the operator panel; a synchronization module configured to access configuration data stored in the configuration data memory and to synchronize these data via a communications interface of the operator panel with configuration data that are stored in a configuration data memory of a remotely disposed operator panel; and, a configuration access module configured to receive from at least one application of the operator panel a read request for stored configuration data, to access stored configuration data, and to read the stored configuration data corresponding to the read request and to deliver the read configuration data for configuring the at least one application to the at least one application.