Industrial Process Control, Modelling and a Broader Process Automation Context

This presentation focuses initially on industrial applications of advanced process control (APC). In the petroleum and chemical industry, APC is now a well-established technology with proven results. Different technology variants have emerged to suit the needs of specific marketplaces, like the polymers market for example. In addition technologies have been developed to help automate the design and maintenance of APC systems, significantly cutting implementation and ownership costs. Having considered these different technologies, the presentation's focus shifts to a broader process automation context. Industrial process control and modelling co-exist with a number of other process automation applications including scheduling, planning, maintenance, quality, abnormal situation management, trading and business systems, many of which are also model-based. As we move from a plant context to focus on a broader scope of the business/supply chain, so interactions with these other systems become increasingly important. The presentation concludes by considering how we can look beyond our traditional boundaries to a broader context where control and modelling principles have an important role to play.