据美国Venture Development Corp.报告，2000年全世界共销售DCS系统，PLC系统和PC控制系统达220亿美元。其中DCS 40.5%；PLC 46.3%；PC控制13.2%。这三种控制系统所用的分散型/远程I/O的市场销售额也为220亿美元。年增长率为6.6%。到2005年估计达300亿美元。从应用领域看，DCS仍然牢牢把握大规模连续流程工业（I/O达数千点）过程控制的应用。PLC已经拥入批量控制市场，在其传统的离散制造工业仍然占据主导地位。软PLC/PC控制采用工控PC机（或嵌入式PC机）和强实时OS，可实现PLC功能和运动控制。直至，PC控制在可靠性、安全性等方面还未取得广泛认可。
据美国Venture Development Corp.报告，PLC与软PLC/PC控制相比具有以下优点：
维修和服务系统健全，有经验的维护人员队伍庞大。
电源故障不会产生大的影响。
对低端应用，PLC具有极大的性能价格比优势。
可靠性无可比拟，故障停机少。
加固型结构，适合工业环境应用。
与PC机发展太快相比，PLC产品可长期供货，长期提供技术支持。
PLC在工厂自动化中的地位之所以如此稳固，原因在于：
Westinghouse DSL-206 DSL206 800 Amp Digitrip RMS 700 LS
Square D MINI-flex Medium Voltage Controller 400HP 200A
Cutler Hammer Westinghouse 600 Amp A HLD3600T107W
Square D Altivar 66 ATV66D46N4U AC VS Drive 40HP 30kW
Square D I Line II AL Busway AF2516GBBCM PAF20 1600A 4W
Square D Transformer 225kVA 480/480 225 kVA 3 PH Delta
Bolt Loc Bolted Pressure Switch VL 3612 3000 Amp 600 V
SBC CHB35/70SE Digital Drive S.B.C. 380V 380 V
Allen Bradley 150-A180NBD 150HP SMC Plus Soft Start NIB
SBC CHB35/70 Digital Drive S.B.C. 380VAC 23kW 23 kW
Federal Pacific 145 kVA 460/460Y/266 3 ph 145kVA 460 Y
Foxboro I/A Series P0930DH 20.1″ LCD Monitor PO930DH
CH Westinghouse HLDB HLDB3600FT33W 600 Amp 600A A
Siemens Breaker LMX3X800 800Amp 800A 800 Amp A LMG MG
Westinghouse Breaker KAM AB De-Ion 225 Amp A 225A
Russelectric 600 Amp RMT-6004CE Transfer Switch 277/480
Motoman JZNC-XPP02 XRC Teach Pendant w/ Cable JZNCXPP02
Fanuc A16B-3200-0150/12C RISC-B Processor Board
Zenith 600 Amp ZTSD2L60FC-7 Transfer Switch 277 / 480 V
Hammond Transformer 275 kVA 460/460Y/265 V 275kVA 3PH Y
Reliance Electric WR-D4001 Power Supply WRD4001 PS PLC
Reliance Electric S-D4006-D DIO Module Input SD4006D
Reliance Electric S-D4008-A AIO Module Input SD4008A
Fanuc A06B-0162-B175 AC Servo Motor M6/3000 1.4 kW NEW
GE Magne-Blast AM 4.16 AM-4.16-75-1 1200 A Amp 4160 V
Pringle Bolted Pressure Switch QA-1633-CBC 1600A 480V
Square D Mod Model 4 8536SGO1 Sz Size 5 MCC Bucket MCCB
Westinghouse IBP Busway Switch 1000 A Amp Bus Plug IBP
Square D I-Line Breaker MGA36800 MG 800 A 800A Amp
Allen Bradley AB 1336S-BX040-AX-EN-L6 40 HP AC VS Drive
Siemens 1FT6105-8AC71-3AA1 3000 RPM Servo Motor NEW
Telemecanique Altivar 5 125 HP 90KW ATV45D90N VS Drive
Bently Nevada 3300/36 Dual Temperature Monitor 330036
General Electric Severe Duty Motor 150 HP 1780 RPM 445T
Fanuc A16B-3200-0412 CPU Main (Slot 1) /03A/04A
Sylvania Transformer 175 kVA 460/230Y/133 175kVA 230 Y
Siemens Midimaster Vector 6SE3224-2DS45 30 HP VS Drive
GE Hi-Break TKH8SS 800 Amp 800A A RMS-9 TS20LIGT2
Sew Eurodrive KH77DT90 1.5 HP Ratio:113.56 Gear Reducer
Sew Eurodrive K76DT8 1 HP Ratio:118.45 Gear Reducer NEW
Sew Eurodrive KH77DT 1 HP Ratio:113.56 Gear Reducer NEW
Mitsubishi Melsec A3UCPU CPU Module 30K Plus Steps NIB
Square D Omegapak Adjustable Freq Controller 8804 50 HP
Square D DS-416 DS416 1600 Amp Digitrip RMS 910 S96LSIG
Modicon AEG NW-BM85-000 Modbus + Bridge Multiplexer NIB
TCI 100 HP Harmonic Guard 3H030A6L5A100 30 kVAR Filter
Texas Instruments 500-5052 Resistance Temp Detector TI
Westinghouse DB25ST DB25 ST 600 Amp Digitrip RMS/R CLS
Allen Bradley AB 1336F-BX040-AE-EN-L6 40 HP VS Drive
ABB ACS-501 AC VS VF Drive ACS501-030-4-00P5 3PH 40 HP
GE General Electric 600 Amp 600A A THJS3606GA3
Texas Instruments 500-5052 Resistance Temp Detector TI
Acme Transformer 167 kVA 240 x 480 120/240 V 1PH 167kVA
Square D Transformer 167kVA 240 x 480 120/240 V 167 kVA
Reliance Electric 50V4151 50HP GV3000 AC Drive 50 HP
Westinghouse Seltronic HMC3800F 800 Amp A 800A
Westinghouse DSL-206 DSL206 800 Amp A Power Air Breaker
Marathon Electric Motor 150 HP 1185 RPM 575V 445T DP
