Closing the "Lab Lag": Applying Soft Sensors and Inferential Models for Real-Time Quality Control

In the modern control room, we measure almost everything in real-time: flow, temperature, pressure, level. But the one thing that matters most—Product Quality—is often the one thing we cannot see in real-time. Whether it is the Melt Index of a polymer, the RVP of gasoline, or the moisture content in a dryer, operators are often […]

5 Min Read

Reducing Steam Consumption & Flaring Through Advanced Process Control (APC)

In the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, excessive steam consumption and unnecessary flaring are often accepted as the unavoidable "cost of doing business." However, in an era of tightening environmental regulations and fluctuating energy costs, these losses represent a massive opportunity for reducing steam consumption in petrochemical plants and minimizing flaring events in oil and gas operations. From a […]

5 Min Read

Grade Transition APC: Synchronized Multivariable Control for Continuous Processes

In the world of continuous processing, whether is it polymers, petrochemicals, or specialty refining, steady-state operation is straightforward. The real challenge, and the real danger to your profit margins, lies in the transition between product grades and time spend during the transition. Moving from Grade A to Grade B, whether shifting viscosity, molecular weight distribution, color […]

5 Min Read

The Hidden Culprit: Best Practices for Control Valve Diagnostics in PID Loop Performance

In the hierarchy of process control problems, the control valve is often the "usual suspect" and for good reason. Industry studies consistently show that over 30% of control valves in operation suffer from performance-degrading mechanical issues.[1] Yet, when a PID loop oscillation occurs, the first instinct of many engineers is to "detune" the controller. This is a band-aid, not […]

6 Min Read

The Role of Real-Time Monitoring for PID/APC Maintenance: Transforming Reactivity into Proactivity

Industrial facilities lose critical efficiency and profitability every month—often without realizing where the losses occur. Control loops drift subtly out of specification, equipment deteriorates undetected, and operators discover problems only when systems fail. Real-time monitoring of PIDs and Advanced Process Control systems transforms this pattern, shifting maintenance from reactive troubleshooting to systematic performance optimization. The […]

3 Min Read

Simulation-Based Training: Bridging the Process Control Skills Gap in Modern Plants

The process control industry faces a critical talent crisis. An aging workforce approaching retirement, increasing competition from tech sectors, and increasingly complex automation systems create a perfect storm: facilities need highly competent operators, yet traditional training methods fail to develop the expertise required. Simulation-based training has become the primary solution for improving process control efficiency […]

4 Min Read

Which Advanced Process Control (APC) Strategy and Architecture to Use for Chemical Plants

Chemical plants operate at the intersection of complex multivariable interactions, stringent product specifications, and economic optimization demands. One critical decision often determines whether facilities achieve exceptional profitability or settle for mediocre performance: choosing between DCS/PLC-based Model Predictive Control (MPC) and commercial MPC software solutions. Both options use advanced multivariable optimization, but their cost, complexity, transparency, and lifecycle […]

4 Min Read

How PiControl’s OPC and cloud integration can unlock global access for modern plants in 2025–and beyond into 2026

As 2025 ends and industries prepare for the innovations of 2026, process automation trends for manufacturing plants keeps moving beyond the boundaries of the traditional control room. Leading plants now expect their teams to access live process data, optimize control performance, and react to alarms from anywhere—thanks to secure industrial cloud integration solutions and powerful […]

2 Min Read

PiControl’s new MPC controller COLUMBO maximizes plant profits while overcoming common MPC limitations

COLUMBO – New MPC inside PLC PiControl Solutions LLC is pleased to offer a brand new release of multivariable model predictive controller, called COLUMBO, a full-blown competitor for Aspen DMC, Emerson PredictPro, Foxboro Aveva Connoisseur, Yokogawa PACE and SMOC and other commercial MPC Technologies. COLUMBO does not need new hardware and software, it can run […]

7 Min Read

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