APPLICATIONS OF PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Abstract

The contemporary automotive industry operates in a highly competitive environment in which industrial automation plays a strategic role in expanding productive efficiency and technological integration. In this context, Programmable Logic Controllers are essential instruments for managing advanced industrial systems, enabling the coordination of stages, continuous supervision, variable analysis, and accurate interventions throughout the manufacturing process. This investigation, based on a bibliographic methodological approach, sought to analyze the use of programmable controllers applied to automotive engineering, observing their relationship with production modernization, operational safety, and digital integration. The review identified significant transformations in production chains, mainly linked to the expansion of computational resources, real-time monitoring, and the adoption of supervisory systems that reduce human interference and improve operational structures. The results indicated that industrial automation represents a key element in reorganizing manufacturing environments, incorporating communicative networks, electronic devices, and advanced architectures that increase control, enable more accurate analyses, and contribute to productive continuity. It was found that the implementation of programmable controllers is directly related to the technological evolution of the Brazilian automotive industry, promoting structural adaptations, continuous improvement, and digital integration that characterize the current industrial context, revealing technical relevance for the development and consolidation of the sector.