Self-diagnostic process control loop for a process plant

A self-diagnostic process control loop within a process control environment comprising:

• a plurality of process control loop devices;
• a memory adapted to store signal data from the process control loop, wherein the signal data is generated as a result of a normal operation of the plurality of process control devices within the process control loop when the process control loop is connected on-line within a process control environment;
• and
• a diagnostic tool adapted to receive one or more diagnostic indices pertaining to a process control loop parameter for a plurality of components of the process control loop, including a diagnostic index pertaining to a diagnostic of a process control device within the process control loop, and for the complete process control loop, wherein each diagnostic index is generated from the signal data by a corresponding index computation tool and wherein the diagnostic index pertaining to a diagnostic of a process control device within the process control loop comprises one or more of the group consisting of:
• a resolution of a process control loop device within the process control loop indicating a minimum process control signal required to cause a response in the process control loop device, a dead band of a process control loop device within the process control loop indicating a measure of a range an input can vary without an observable response in the process control loop device in response to a process control signal and a hysteresis of a process control loop device within the process control loop indicating a displacement of a process control loop device based on an input to the process control loop device and an output of the process control loop device, the diagnostic tool further adapted to evaluate a condition of the process control loop from one or more of the diagnostic indices.