A system for testing at least a first automatic control device via a plant model includes: a first subsystem; and a second subsystem which is spatially separated from the first subsystem. The plant model comprises an executable first model code and an executable second model code. The first subsystem comprises a first time-signal processing component configured to electronically assign a first time signal (Ts1) from a global time source to a first event. The first model code is configured to provide a first calculation result based on the first event. The second subsystem comprises a second time-signal processing component configured to electronically assign a second time signal (Ts2) from the global time source to a second event. The second model code is configured to provide a second calculation result based on the second event.