// common questions
FAQ
Common questions about PLC Automator — PLC tag extraction from electrical schematics, data handling, IP and the controlled pilot workflow.
Common questions
Does PLC Automator replace controls engineers?
No. The product produces a draft data pack — extracted tags, alarms and documentation — that a qualified engineer reviews and approves before it's used. It is a workflow tool, not a replacement for engineering judgement.
Can the AI make a mistake?
Yes. The model output is treated as a draft — uncertain or conflicting items are flagged for engineer review, never auto-accepted. And if you need help, we go above and beyond: responsive customer service is our strongest feature.
What drawing types and systems are supported?
A pilot starts with one agreed drawing type and export. Universal support for every format, vendor or system is not claimed; each workflow is agreed and demonstrated before it is relied on.
What happens with messy, incomplete or ambiguous drawings?
Those items are surfaced as review exceptions. They are not hidden or auto-completed. An engineer inspects the source evidence and decides how to proceed.
Are our drawings confidential?
Yes. All data you upload is treated as confidential and remains customer-owned. Processing runs on AI models hosted by default in our private AWS environment. For more information, see security and data handling.
Can we discuss a private or customer-controlled processing route?
Yes. Private AWS processing and customer-controlled environments can be discussed under planned higher-assurance options. The architecture, data residency, access controls, retention and responsibilities must be agreed before deployment.
Who owns the drawings, outputs and product configuration?
You do. The customer retains all rights to project drawings, project information and project-specific outputs. PLC Automator staff can only access your project data with your prior approval. Product and company IP are covered by the applicable agreement.
Is customer data used to train AI models?
No — never. Your drawings and project data are not used to train, fine-tune or improve any AI model. They are processed only to produce the agreed engineering outputs for your project.
Does the product access live PLC/SCADA/OT systems?
No. The product processes authorised engineering files. It does not connect to, monitor or deploy changes to live OT systems.
How does this work with our tag naming rules, templates and exports?
We load the customer’s naming rules, templates and export formats before processing. The output is a draft data pack that matches the agreed rules, demonstrated for the specific workflow.
Does this reduce our billable work?
It reduces manual data entry. Under strict time-and-materials contracts, actual labour should still be recorded. The value is in capacity, quality and faster delivery — more time for high-quality review, not fabricated labour.
Can we export our data and avoid lock-in?
Yes. Outputs are delivered in the vendor format your workflow needs — customer-owned files, no proprietary dependency.
Can you configure or co-develop a workflow for our company?
Absolutely. Our engineers love working with customers to improve the efficiency of their control-systems processes. Get in touch and we'll work to your needs — if you want it and we can do it, we'll make it happen.
What does a controlled pilot involve?
A guided, view-only trial on one agreed drawing package — we process your schematics and walk through the tags, exceptions, code and documentation with you. For more information, see controlled pilot page.