Re: PLC & PIC
Just about amy micro can be used to take the place of PLC- often with improved efficiency and almost as goo reliability.
However, the problem with using micros is that when problems develope only personnel familar with the micro can troubleshoot at the chip level. In real life situations all faults are automaticly blaimed on the micro being the part of the system that most people do not understand. At least PLC's are more understandably, many operators and most maintenance men can and will work with them. Also, reconfigurations or reuse of components could present some problems.
These issues can be worked arround, but you need to plan for them from the start.