Motor Control Centers Are Getting Smarter—Your Software Should Too

Motor control centers (MCCs) sit at the heart of heavy industry: mining, manufacturing, processing, water, and energy. But commissioning and maintaining an MCC can be time-consuming and risky when you’re stuck with manual configuration, limited visibility, and slow troubleshooting. Rockwell Automation highlights how these pain points can reduce productivity and increase the risk of errors—especially when downtime, safety requirements, and future scalability are all in play. Rockwell Automation

The shift happening now is simple: treat the MCC like a connected system—with software that provides real-time status, fault information, documentation access, and remote diagnostics from a safer location.

At Staro Process Control, we’ve been active in automation across mining and heavy industrial sectors since 1996, and we support customers who want practical, plant-ready modernization—not hype. Staro Process Control

The Core Problem: MCC Complexity Meets Real-World Constraints

Even experienced engineering teams run into the same MCC challenges:

• Manual setup that consumes commissioning time

• Limited visibility into what’s running, faulted, or trending toward failure

• Troubleshooting that requires someone to go to the panel—adding safety exposure and response delays

• Documentation scattered across folders, vendors, and email trails

• Upgrades that feel “too risky” because nobody wants to disrupt production 

When these issues stack up, you get the worst combination: unplanned downtime + reactive maintenance + slower startup.

IntelliCENTER Software: The “Window” Into Your MCC

Rockwell describes IntelliCENTER motor control center software as a way to build a digital representation of your MCC using datasets—so your team can view the lineup through a graphical “elevation view,” with configurable displays and at-a-glance status.

What that means on a plant floor

Instead of guessing where the problem is—or paging through drawings under pressure—your team can quickly see:

• Which devices are ready/running/warning/faulted (and communication-loss status)

• Status indicators per device, so faults and alarms are immediately visible

• Fault data, remote diagnostics, and electronic documentation in one environment 

Rockwell also notes that you can access and manage connected motor control through a secure web browser using FactoryTalk Design Studio. Rockwell Automation+1

Faster Commissioning Starts With Better Data (Not More People)

One of the most direct costs in MCC projects is commissioning time—especially when the install is hardwired heavily and device configuration is repeated manually.

With IntelliCENTER-enabled MCC designs, Rockwell points to built-in EtherNet/IP and factory pre-configuration/testing, reducing complexity before equipment even arrives on site. 

Key commissioning accelerators called out include:

• Reduced complex inter-wiring—Rockwell cites hardwiring reductions and even up to 90% hardwiring installation time reduction in certain designs

• Preconfigured, validated devices before delivery 

• Importing MCC EtherNet/IP devices into a project “in a single step,” with device type/name/IP configuration included 

For projects under schedule pressure, this is where software earns its keep: less manual work, fewer configuration errors, and faster handover from project to operations.

Remote Monitoring Improves Safety and Response Time

MCC work always carries risk—especially when troubleshooting requires physical proximity to high-energy equipment.

Rockwell emphasizes that IntelliCENTER software allows operators to remotely monitor networked device status from the safety of the control room, helping reduce exposure to electrical hazards.

This doesn’t remove the need for proper procedures—but it does change the workflow:

• Diagnose first, then approach with a plan

• Reduce unnecessary panel visits

• Shorten time-to-decision during breakdowns or alarms

Reduce Unplanned Downtime With Warnings, Diagnostics, and Documentation

Downtime isn’t only caused by major failures—often it’s the slow “death by delays”:

• alarms that aren’t acted on early

• fault histories that take too long to pull

• uncertainty around what spares you need

• documentation hunts during critical stoppages

Rockwell notes that diagnostic tools and alerts help teams act before faults occur, and that IntelliCENTER datasets can provide a documentation library (manuals, wiring diagrams, spare parts lists) for components and lineup buckets. 

In practice, that supports:

• faster troubleshooting

• cleaner maintenance planning

• better spares forecasting

• reduced mean time to repair (MTTR)

Where IntelliCENTER Fits in MCC Standards and Hardware Choices

Rockwell positions IntelliCENTER motor control software as used with specific MCC platforms, including CENTERLINE and FLEXLINE families, and highlights secure EtherNet/IP connectivity.

If you’re reviewing a new MCC or a modernization project, the right question becomes:
“Can we standardize on a connected MCC architecture that makes operations easier for the next 10–20 years?”

How Staro Process Control Helps You Apply This in the Real World

Software value only shows up when it’s engineered, configured, and adopted correctly.

Staro Process Control supports heavy industry with automation capability and long-term service mindset—helping bridge the gap between product features and actual plant outcomes. Staro Process Control+1

Typical support areas include:

• Scoping & design support: aligning MCC visibility goals with the right architecture

• Integration readiness: ensuring the MCC data can support operations and maintenance workflows

• Commissioning support: accelerating startup with structured configuration and validation

• Lifecycle support: troubleshooting, training, spares planning, and ongoing optimization Staro Process Control

Quick Checklist: Is MCC Software the Right Move for You?

Consider prioritizing MCC software modernization if you’re facing:

• Frequent nuisance trips or slow fault-finding

• High-risk troubleshooting near energized equipment

• Documentation that’s hard to access under pressure

• Expansion plans that require consistent standards

• A drive toward remote monitoring, better uptime, and faster commissioning 

FAQs

What is IntelliCENTER motor control center software?
It’s software that uses datasets to create a digital representation of your MCC, providing an elevation view, status, diagnostics, and documentation access.

How does MCC software reduce commissioning time?
Rockwell highlights built-in EtherNet/IP, factory pre-configuration, and the ability to import MCC devices into a project in a single step—reducing manual setup work.

Does remote MCC monitoring improve safety?
Yes—Rockwell notes operators can monitor networked device status from a control room, reducing exposure to electrical hazards during troubleshooting.

What documentation can IntelliCENTER datasets include?
Rockwell describes access to manuals, wiring diagrams, and spare parts lists for MCC components/buckets as part of the dataset-supported documentation library. Rockwell Automation

Closing

If your MCC is critical to production, then visibility, speed, and safer maintenance aren’t “nice-to-haves”—they’re operational advantages. MCC software that centralizes configuration, monitoring, diagnostics, and documentation can be the difference between reactive firefighting and controlled reliability.

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