In many commercial and industrial applications, quite a few electric motors are required, and it is often desirable to control some or all of the motors from a central location.The apparatus designed for this function is the motor control center (MCC).

Motor control centers are simply physical groupings of combination starters in one assembly. A combination starter is a single enclosure containing the motor starter, fuses or circuit breaker, and a device for disconnecting power. Other devices associated with the motor, such as pushbuttons and indicator lights, may also be included.