In this episode, we break down the role of a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) inside an IIoT stack. We explain how PLCs act as the “field brain” — reading sensors and driving actuators — and how they bridge real-time control with higher-level systems. Then we cover where PLCs can become a bottleneck: things like scalability, protocol limits, or visibility into data for analytics. You’ll hear from field stories where teams struggled to thread PLCs into an IIoT path, and what approaches helped (or didn’t). If you’re building industrial data systems, or curious how control gear fits into a cloud-enabled world, this is a grounded, practical take — no hype, just what really matters. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.