An information retrieval system (1) for use with a control system (10) in a plant having processes and/or pieces of equipment, the control system (10) connected with at least one input component and/or at least one output component for monitoring and controlling the processes and the pieces of equipment, the control system enabled to produce state indications (12) from the input and output components indicating potential fault in one or more of: at least one input and/or output component; at least one process; at least one piece of equipment; a part of the control system (10); or, a part of the plant.