Part 1—What happened to simple useful APC techniques?

摘要

Advanced process control (APC) is labor intensive, requiring about one experienced engineer per three major units, a level of effort rarely matched, even in well-run plants. And to do the job right, APC requires people who understand not only control theory but also process engineering, refinery economics and several other disciplines. However, APC experts have been leaving the field at an alarming rate. How can we handle APC efficiently with the current situation? We must find a productive way to use engineers who do not have 20+ years of experience in the field.