PLCcentric

PLCcentric refers to an approach to industrial automation in which programmable logic controllers (PLCs) serve as the central control and data-processing node within an automation topology. The term is used to describe systems that leverage mature PLC ecosystems to achieve deterministic execution, predictable maintenance, and clear ownership of control logic.

In a PLCcentric architecture, PLCs coordinate with human-machine interfaces (HMIs), SCADA systems, sensors, actuators, and safety devices. Communications typically rely on industrial fieldbuses or Ethernet-based protocols and standards such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus, and OPC UA to enable data exchange and interoperability with higher-level software.

Advantages include robust real-time performance, extensive vendor support, long device lifecycles, and easier workforce training for facilities already skilled in PLC programming. The approach can reduce integration risk in brownfield installations by leveraging familiar platforms and reducing the need for newer, more complex control architectures.

Criticisms focus on limited scalability for highly distributed or data-driven applications, potential vendor lock-in, and cybersecurity concerns due to centralized control planes. As manufacturing demands grow toward analytics and cloud connectivity, PLCcentric designs are often augmented with edge computing, gateways, or PACs to broaden capabilities.

The term is not uniformly standardized and appears mainly in vendor literature and industry discussions as a way to emphasize the PLC as the core system in an automation stack. Real-world implementations vary widely, blending PLC-centric control with modern IIoT and data analytics approaches.