A method for operating a distributed control system, DCS, of an industrial plant, wherein the DCS comprises a plurality of controllers, and each such controller is configured to communicate with a plurality of subordinate devices (2, 3) over a time sensitive network, TSN, the method comprising the steps of: • providing, by an engineering entity of the DCS, a control application that comprises, for each controller, instructions to contact particular to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3) and perform control logic using these subordinate devices (2, 3), wherein the control application has been engineered to operate the DCS as a whole and orchestrates the work of the different controllers; • obtaining, by each controller, information about TSN capabilities (2a, 3a) of the to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3); • computing, by each controller, a TSN communication schedule (11a-13a) for communication between this controller and the to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3); • providing, by a first controller, to a second controller, and/or to a TSN scheduling entity, first scheduling information computed by this first controller, wherein this scheduling information comprises: ∘ a first TSN communication schedule determined by the first controller; and/or ∘ an earliest time at which the first controller can finish communicating with subordinate devices (2, 3); and/or ∘ a latest time at which the first controller next needs to communicate with subordinate devices (2, 3); • modifying, by the second controller, respectively by the TSN scheduling entity, based on scheduling information computed by the second controller, and/or on scheduling information determined by a third controller, the first scheduling information; and • providing, by the second controller, respectively by the TSN scheduling entity, the modified first scheduling information (11b*) to the first controller; and • performing, by each controller, according to the communication schedule (11a-13a), the control logic with the to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3). • providing, by an engineering entity of the DCS, a control application that comprises, for each controller, instructions to contact particular to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3) and perform control logic using these subordinate devices (2, 3), wherein the control application has been engineered to operate the DCS as a whole and orchestrates the work of the different controllers; • obtaining, by each controller, information about TSN capabilities (2a, 3a) of the to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3); • computing, by each controller, a TSN communication schedule (11a-13a) for communication between this controller and the to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3); • providing, by a first controller, to a second controller, and/or to a TSN scheduling entity, first scheduling information computed by this first controller, wherein this scheduling information comprises: ∘ a first TSN communication schedule determined by the first controller; and/or ∘ an earliest time at which the first controller can finish communicating with subordinate devices (2, 3); and/or ∘ a latest time at which the first controller next needs to communicate with subordinate devices (2, 3); ∘ a first TSN communication schedule determined by the first controller; and/or ∘ an earliest time at which the first controller can finish communicating with subordinate devices (2, 3); and/or ∘ a latest time at which the first controller next needs to communicate with subordinate devices (2, 3); • modifying, by the second controller, respectively by the TSN scheduling entity, based on scheduling information computed by the second controller, and/or on scheduling information determined by a third controller, the first scheduling information; and • providing, by the second controller, respectively by the TSN scheduling entity, the modified first scheduling information (11b*) to the first controller; and • performing, by each controller, according to the communication schedule (11a-13a), the control logic with the to-be-used subordinate devices (2, 3).