Process Control Guide is a practitioner-grounded resource for engineers working with distributed control systems (DCS) and process automation.
The site covers:
DCS fundamentals and architecture — the core concepts, topology, and components that define distributed control.
Vendor deep-dives — detailed coverage of Emerson DeltaV, Yokogawa CENTUM VP, Honeywell Experion PKS, ABB 800xA, Siemens PCS 7, and Rockwell PlantPAx, with attention to the architectural and terminological differences that matter when you work across platforms.
Process control theory — PID tuning, cascade control, feedforward, ratio, override, and advanced control strategies as they apply in real plants.
Safety instrumented systems — IEC 61508 / 61511, SIL ratings, and the design considerations that separate functional safety from general control.
Standards and best practices — ISA-88 (batch), ISA-95 (enterprise integration), ISA-101 (HMI design), ISA-18.2 (alarm management), and IEC 62443 (cybersecurity).
Industry context — oil & gas, refining, petrochemicals, chemicals, power generation, water treatment, and pharmaceuticals.
Career — roles, certifications, and the path into DCS engineering.
The content draws on real commissioning, migration, and operations experience. When the site says “on a project I worked on,” that’s literal — articles are written from hands-on work, not summarized vendor marketing.
Process Control Guide is part of a small network of automation engineering resources that also includes Control System Guide (PLC fundamentals) and Industrial Software Guide (industrial software pricing and comparisons).
If you have feedback, corrections, or suggestions for topics, the Contact page is the best way to reach us.