Back Up Your PLC Program, Don’t Be Sorry

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) are vital programs businesses use to control different industrial processes. They monitor inputs from system devices and make decisions based on their programming. They’re like the nerve center for your industrial systems.

They’re used to control everything from factory assembly lines, conveyor belts and amusement rides to lighting fixtures and water displays. With so much depending on a PLC’s proper functioning, any gaps in their service can hurt your company’s bottom line.

Backing up your PLC is like buying an auto insurance policy. In the event of a car wreck, your insurance policy will pay to replace all or most of your car. The same goes for backing up your PLC. Power surges, natural disasters, system glitches and incidental damage can cause your PLC to go offline, creating a dip in your productivity. PLC data can also become damaged and improperly function, resulting in potential equipment damage and safety issues for employees.

Each PLC is programmed with its specific purpose in mind and requires custom coding. In the event of an incident, the PLC’s programming data can be wiped out and need to be reprogrammed before productivity can resume. This is a lengthy process, requiring skilled programmers that can cost your company a good deal of money and time. And with the average facility having anywhere from 12-30 PLCs, the problem can magnify quickly.

Backing up your PLC’s programming will preserve most, if not all, of the programming, saving you a lot of trouble.

Talk to your System Engineers about creating hard copies of all of your PLC programming and setting up an emergency data back-up plan. You can also contact Innovative IDM for advice and to set up an appointment with one of our PLC professionals who can help guide you through the process. — Robert Dominguez