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PID100: PID Tuning Certification and Primary Process Control Course

Contact Us Today: info@PiControlSolutions.com, Tel: (832) 495 6436

Duration: 2 Days Classroom or 15 hours Online
Audience: DCS Technicians, Plant Operators, Instrument Engineers, Process Engineers and Process Control Engineers.
Prerequisites: Control room experience as technician, operator or engineer is desirable, but not required.
Course Material: Software Products used in Course – Pitops, Simcet and Training Slides.

Course Description:

This course addresses needs of control room operators, DCS technicians, process control engineers, applications engineers and anyone else responsible for PID tuning in the plant. Many new personnel enter the control room these days; there are numerous types of processes and different DCS and PLC systems.

This course starts with the basics of process control, explains the PID equation in the time domain and then trains using three powerful PID tuning, real-time simulation/ optimization and grading software products.

In a remarkably short 2-day time, students learn to optimally tune PIDs and make process changes on distillation columns, reactors, tanks, compressors, flow controllers, heat exchangers using modern real- time simulator software.

The software also has automatic grading capability, so at end of the course, the software generates a report card on the PID tuning skills of each attendee.

This course provides good foundation, skills and knowledge for all DCS/PLC related tag building, control scheme design in a DCS/PLC and the ability to calculate tuning parameters not only for PIDs but other control schemes without the old trial-and-error method but scientifically.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the course, attendees will be able to tune PIDs in any DCS/PLC, troubleshoot problems, dampen/eliminate oscillations, improve controller performance, all of which helps maximize rates, directly increasing the plant’s bottom-line profits.

Through practice on a real-time PID tuning simulator, attendees will gain tremendous confidence in PID tuning on live DCS/PLC’s in actual operating plants. This confidence that would otherwise have taken several years on the job now can be achieved in just two days. Attendees will also learn many important and practical concepts about DCS/PLC operations.  The following topics are covered in this course:

  • Introduction to Industrial Process Control
  • Process Control Terminology and Definitions
  • Manipulated Variables, Controlled Variables, Disturbance/Feed forward Variables
  • Process Control Dynamics and Process Transfer Functions
  • Open Loop Dynamics
  • PID Equation in Time Domain and Laplace Domain
  • PID Examples in Time Domain with Calculation Illustrations
  • Process Control Schematics
  • Positional and Velocity Forms of PID Equation
  • PID Simulations using Pitops and Simcet
  • Advanced Forms of PID Algorithms
  • Simulating Noise and Process Disturbances
  • Filter Action and Filter Time Constant
  • Estimating Correct Filter Time Constant in DCS or PLC
  • Hands-On Lab (Practical) Sessions Using Real-Time PID Simulator Software
  • Optimal Tuning Theory and Calculations
  • Error Criteria for PID Tuning and Quantifying Control Quality
  • Typical PID Tuning Parameters for Various Types of Processes
  • Optimal Tuning using Pitops Simulator with Disturbances, Noise and Setpoint Changes
  • Estimating Process Dynamics from DCS Trends and Operator Knowledge
  • Transforming Process Operating Information into Controller Tuning
  • DCS Attributes and Features Controller Modes
  • PV Tracking
  • Importance of Derivative Action,
  • When to Use/Not to Use Derivative
  • Estimating Derivative Tuning Parameter Scientifically
  • Procedures for conducting Step Tests in the Plant
  • Continue Hands-On Lab (Practical) Sessions Using Simulator Software
  • Cascade Control Basics
  • SP/OP Tracking, Bumpless Transfer
  • Timed Tests using Training Simulator for Testing

PID100 Question & Answers

The course runs 2 days in a classroom or 15 hours online.

The course is designed for DCS technicians, plant operators, instrumentation engineers, process engineers, and process control engineers.

Control room experience as a technician, operator, or engineer is recommended but not required.

The course uses Pitops, Simcet, and training slides for PID tuning, process control simulation, and optimization.

The course teaches attendees how to optimize PID tuning, improve controller performance, and troubleshoot process control issues.

Participants will learn how to tune PID controllers in any DCS/PLC system, analyze process dynamics, and optimize control strategies using scientific methods.

Properly tuned PID controllers reduce oscillations, enhance process control stability, and increase plant profitability.

The course covers industrial process control fundamentals, PID equations, real-time PID tuning simulations, advanced control algorithms, filtering techniques, and plant testing procedures.

Yes, it includes real-time PID simulation labs, allowing attendees to gain practical experience in PID controller tuning.

The software features an automatic grading system, which generates a detailed performance report on each participant’s PID tuning proficiency.

The course teaches scientific methods for calculating PID tuning parameters, eliminating the need for trial-and-error tuning.

Yes. The training is designed to be DCS/PLC system-agnostic and applies across various control system manufacturers.

Yes. The curriculum includes cascade control principles, signal filtering, and step test procedures for process control tuning.

Instead of years of hands-on experience, attendees gain confidence in PID tuning through intensive real-time simulation training in just two days.

Visit the official website to register online. Course schedules, pricing, and availability are listed on the training page.

Yes. PID100 is structured to help non-engineering plant staff, such as operators or technicians, gain a solid foundation in process control and make a confident career pivot into automation or control engineering.

This course provides structured, scientific tuning techniques and real-time simulations that improve consistency, accuracy, and documentation, helping experienced professionals validate and elevate their current skills.

Yes, with prior approval, you can bring non-sensitive examples or describe typical tuning challenges faced in your plant. Instructors may integrate these into lab exercises or Q&A discussions.

Participants receive a PiControl PID100 Completion Certificate, which can be used for professional development documentation or added to resumes and LinkedIn profiles.

Absolutely. We recommend group participation, especially when teams are responsible for process reliability or control system upgrades. We also offer on-site corporate training on request.

Yes. PID100 is frequently used by companies as part of their technical onboarding, DCS/PLC upskilling, or control room readiness programs.

Yes. Attendees receive digital training materials, temporary software access, and follow-up guidance. PiControl also offers advanced follow-on courses (like APC200) to continue learning.

Yes. One of the major strengths of PID100 is hands-on diagnostic training—you’ll learn to detect, analyze, and fix poor tuning, dead time issues, and unstable loops using real-world cases.


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