One of the main expenses for a company is having to pay workers to perform the tedious activity of controlling machinery. This wastes manpower that could be put to use on more profitable and technical activities. As a result, many companies have turned to using a programmable logic controller. A programmable logic controller is a computer that is attached to a piece of machinery that controls its movements. A user can input commands and times for a machine to run. The programmable logic controller will then take those commands and have the machine execute them exactly, within the given time frame.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to using this type of controller.

Advantages

The primary advantage is that programmable logic controllers are able to reduce the amount of money that is spent paying employees to perform jobs that are beneath their true abilities. A second advantage is that the programming language that the controller uses is very easy.

It's simple enough so that even a worker who doesn't have a strong background in programming is able to input commands successfully, but complex enough to do almost anything a company needs. These controllers are designed to be used in an industrial environment, so they will not easily be damaged by vibrations pressure from the machinery.

This will allow the company go for a longer period of time without having to replace the controller. 

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage is that the programmable logic controller can be difficult to first install. In order to successfully connect it to the machine that it will run, there is a technical setup process that may require the expertise of a professional.

This can increase the initial installation costs, but the savings provided by the controller will offset those costs fairly quickly. A second disadvantage is that, due to the nature of coding, there will be bugs in the program that may be difficult to find. As a result, at least one worker who has a background in programming is needed.

Essentially, a programmable logic controller is able to redistribute labor throughout a factory so that unskilled labor can be moved to areas that are more profitable. One or two skilled workers can then fill in for the unskilled labor by programming the controllers to run the machines.

These controllers can increase a company's profit margin and greatly decrease costs, making the company much more successful. For more help, contact a company like Flodyne Incorporated to learn more.

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