A SCADA system is used for the supervisory monitoring, data acquisition and control of industrial plants and processes. It collects process data from controllers and other system components and presents it visually to operators.

Typical functions include process visualisation, alarm management, trend displays and the recording of process data.

Well-known SCADA systems include Siemens WinCC, Siemens SIMATIC WinCC OA (Open Architecture), Ignition, AVEVA System Platform, Rockwell FactoryTalk, and GE Vernova Proficy CIMPLICITY and iFIX.