A system, comprising: at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110), wherein one of the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) comprises a lead motor-driven prime mover and a second of the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) comprises a lag motor-driven prime mover that operates in response to the lead motor-driven prime mover being in distress; a plurality of sensors, coupled to the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110), that measure operational data associated with the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110); a motor protection system (205, 210), coupled to the plurality of sensors, that generates a plurality of motor protection measurements from the operational data measured by the plurality of sensors; and a controller, coupled to the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) and the motor protection system, that controls operation of the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) as a function of the plurality of motor protection measurements, wherein the controller uses the plurality of motor protection measurements to determine if the lead motor-driven prime mover is in distress, the controller activating operation of the lag motor-driven prime mover in response to determining that the lead motor-driven prime mover is in distress, wherein the controller activates operation of the lag motor-driven prime mover prior to tripping the distressed lead motor-driven prime mover, characterized in that the controller utilizes a motor protection curve defined for a process in which the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) operate, wherein the motor protection curve provides a safe run-time for operating the distressed lead motor-driven prime mover at an overload current level, and wherein the motor protection curve provides a maximum backup starting time for activating operation of the lag motor-driven prime mover prior to the tripping of the distressed lead motor-driven prime mover. at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110), wherein one of the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) comprises a lead motor-driven prime mover and a second of the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) comprises a lag motor-driven prime mover that operates in response to the lead motor-driven prime mover being in distress; a plurality of sensors, coupled to the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110), that measure operational data associated with the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110); a motor protection system (205, 210), coupled to the plurality of sensors, that generates a plurality of motor protection measurements from the operational data measured by the plurality of sensors; and a controller, coupled to the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) and the motor protection system, that controls operation of the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) as a function of the plurality of motor protection measurements, wherein the controller uses the plurality of motor protection measurements to determine if the lead motor-driven prime mover is in distress, the controller activating operation of the lag motor-driven prime mover in response to determining that the lead motor-driven prime mover is in distress, wherein the controller activates operation of the lag motor-driven prime mover prior to tripping the distressed lead motor-driven prime mover, characterized in that the controller utilizes a motor protection curve defined for a process in which the at least two redundant motor-driven prime movers (105, 110) operate, wherein the motor protection curve provides a safe run-time for operating the distressed lead motor-driven prime mover at an overload current level, and wherein the motor protection curve provides a maximum backup starting time for activating operation of the lag motor-driven prime mover prior to the tripping of the distressed lead motor-driven prime mover.