ABSTRACT
There is no question that process automation is an absolute requirement of modern production facilities. Furthermore, countless studies have demonstrated a direct link between overall process performance and the performance of their underlying control system. The rst and most obvious benet of process automation is the resulting increase in productivity as measured by production output per employee. This increase in productivity is due to both the improved ability to run against production constraints and the reduced workload on plant operators. Modern processes are designed with automation in mind and are generally so complex and interactive that it would be unfeasible to operate them manually. Secondly, automation improves the reliability and safety of processing facilities. An integral part of every control system is the safety and interlock systems, which generally include automated shutdown procedures, which can be triggered in the case of emergency. There is a synergy between optimal control and integrated safety systems that allows modern plants to operate much closer to equipment limits without jeopardizing the safety of the employees or exposing the equipment to unacceptable risk of damage. And nally, process control signicantly enhances process efciencies, allowing production of goods to tighter quality specications and with minimal use of energy and raw materials. These efciency gains can be derived from the ability to run closer to an operational constraint or simply by reducing unnecessary process variation.
