PiControl Solutions
PiControl Solutions
Monitoring · Process Control Monitoring & Diagnostics

Process Control Monitoring and Diagnostics Software for PID, APC, and MPC Loops

Overview

What Process Control Monitoring and Diagnostics Is

Process control monitoring and diagnostics is the continuous assessment and performance evaluation of PID control loops, PLC- or DCS-based advanced process controllers (APC), model predictive control (MPC) systems, measuring sensors, and final control elements. PiControl's monitoring and diagnostics software suite, APROMON, PiLogger, and PiLims, gives engineers real-time performance evaluation, accurate fault detection, and streamlined data validation and transfer, so plants can move quickly toward optimal control instead of waiting for a scheduled loop audit to find the problem.

PID loops, APC strategies, and MPC systems degrade quietly. A sticking valve, a drifting sensor, or a controller tuned for conditions that no longer exist rarely trips an alarm; it just costs the plant money every day until someone finds it. Process control monitoring and diagnostics software replaces the wait for a scheduled audit with continuous assessment, so engineers can act quickly and keep loops moving toward optimal control rather than away from it.

Our products

The Process Control Monitoring and Diagnostics Product Family

Three products cover process control monitoring and diagnostics end to end: continuous AI-based loop performance grading, high-speed data logging for fast troubleshooting, and secure lab-to-DCS/PLC data transfer.

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LOOP SCOREBOARD$$

APROMON

Continuous, AI-based PID/APC/MPC control-loop performance monitoring and diagnostics. APROMON evaluates single, cascade, feedforward, and adaptive loops, automatically calculates and archives 30+ performance criteria for every tag, and assigns performance grades so engineers know which controllers need attention first.

HIGH-SPEED TREND

PiLogger

High-speed OPC data logging software for fast, accurate troubleshooting. PiLogger captures process data at high speed to help identify the "First Out" condition during an upset or trip, and the frequently collected raw data it produces supports more accurate system identification and control optimization.

LAB SAMPLES

PiLims

Laboratory information management system with a built-in OPC client for secure lab-to-DCS/PLC data transfer. Where direct data entry into the DCS or PLC isn't feasible for security or policy reasons, PiLims lets lab and process engineers enter data on a Windows server-based computer and transfer it securely into the control system.

Significance

Why Process Control Monitoring and Diagnostics Matters

Process control monitoring and diagnostics is essential for ensuring the efficiency, safety, and reliability of industrial processes. Here is what it delivers, and which product delivers it.

Product: APROMON · AI-based assessment

Optimal control loop performance

APROMON uses artificial intelligence to assess the performance of PID and APC loops, evaluating single loops, cascade loops, feedforwards, adaptive loops, and measuring signals.

  • Evaluates single, cascade, feedforward, and adaptive loops alike
  • Fine-tunes control parameters continuously instead of once a quarter
  • Covers measuring signals as well as the controllers themselves
Why it works: continuous monitoring and diagnostics lets engineers optimize control parameters instead of waiting for the next scheduled audit. Delivered by APROMON.
Product: APROMON · 30+ criteria per tag

Continuous assessment

APROMON automatically calculates and archives over 30+ performance criteria for every tag, in real time.

  • Every tag scored continuously, not on a periodic audit cycle
  • 30+ criteria archived automatically, with no manual data pull
  • History available for trend and root-cause analysis
Why it works: deviations and issues are identified promptly, not discovered weeks later during a manual review.
Product: APROMON · Prioritization

Performance grading

APROMON assigns performance grades to controllers and dedicated equipment. A higher grade means better performance; a lower grade prompts attention.

  • Grades every monitored loop, from A down through the worst performers
  • Ranks hundreds of loops by economic loss, not just alphabetically
  • Turns a plant-wide audit into a short, prioritized worklist
Why it works: grades give control engineers a quick, effective way to prioritize PID, APC, and MPC controller issues. Delivered by APROMON.
Product: PiLogger · First-out troubleshooting

Fast data collection and analysis

PiLogger collects high-speed data so engineers can accurately identify the "First Out" condition during equipment or process-related issues.

  • Sub-second logging pinpoints exactly what tripped first
  • Frequently collected raw data supports more accurate system identification
  • Shortens root-cause investigations from days to hours
Why it works: fast, accurate data collection enables rapid troubleshooting and minimizes costly downtime. Delivered by PiLogger.
Product: PiLims · Secure lab-to-DCS transfer

Data validation and transfer

PiLims allows data entry on a Windows server-based computer and secure transfer into the DCS or PLC, for laboratory and data-entry scenarios where direct entry isn't feasible.

  • Keeps lab data entry off the DCS/PLC where policy requires it
  • Transfers securely from a Windows server-based computer
  • Keeps data accurate on both the lab and control-system side
Why it works: security policies that block direct DCS/PLC data entry no longer stand between lab results and the control system. Delivered by PiLims.
Products: PiLogger, PiLims · OPC simulation

Training and testing

PiLogger and PiLims both offer testing and training capabilities using standard OPC simulation servers.

  • Practice against simulated OPC data before touching live tags
  • Standard OPC simulation servers, no special test rig required
  • Builds engineer and technician confidence before go-live
Why it works: engineers and technicians build real-world skills against simulated OPC data before they touch a live plant.
Three products, one monitoring layer
APROMON grades PID, APC, and MPC loop performance continuously, so engineers know which controllers need attention first.
PiLogger and PiLims round out the layer with fast troubleshooting data and secure lab-to-DCS transfer.
Who uses it

How Plants Use This Software

Continuous Monitoring01

Continuous PID, APC, and MPC Loop Performance Monitoring

Plants use APROMON to continuously monitor and diagnose the performance of PID control loops, DCS/PLC-based advanced process control, and model predictive control systems. Instead of waiting for a scheduled loop audit, engineers see performance grades and 30+ archived criteria per tag, and know exactly which loops need attention.

  • AI-based evaluation of single, cascade, feedforward, and adaptive loops
  • 30+ performance criteria automatically calculated and archived per tag
  • Performance grading that prioritizes which PID/APC/MPC issues to address first
  • Continuous fine-tuning and optimization of control parameters
Troubleshooting & Data02

Fast Troubleshooting, Secure Lab Data Transfer, and Engineer Training

When equipment or process issues occur, plants turn to PiLogger for fast, accurate high-speed data collection and "First Out" root-cause analysis, and to PiLims for secure lab-to-DCS/PLC data transfer where direct entry isn't feasible. Both products also support engineer and technician training and testing with standard OPC simulation servers.

  • Fast, accurate "First Out" event identification for rapid troubleshooting
  • Frequently collected raw data for more accurate system identification
  • Secure lab-to-DCS/PLC data transfer from a Windows server-based computer
  • Engineer and technician training and testing via standard OPC simulation servers
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Process Control Monitoring and Diagnostics

Process control monitoring and diagnostics is the continuous assessment and performance evaluation of PID control loops, PLC- or DCS-based advanced process control (APC), model predictive control (MPC) systems, measuring sensors, and final control elements. It uses technology such as AI-based performance grading, high-speed data logging, and secure data transfer to help engineers act quickly and move plants toward optimal control.
PiControl's monitoring and diagnostics suite includes APROMON for continuous PID/APC/MPC loop performance monitoring, PiLogger for high-speed OPC data logging, and PiLims for laboratory information management and secure lab-to-DCS/PLC data transfer.
APROMON uses artificial intelligence to evaluate single loops, cascade loops, feedforwards, adaptive loops, and measuring signals, automatically calculating and archiving over 30+ performance criteria for every tag. It then assigns a performance grade to each controller, so engineers can prioritize the loops that need attention first.
PiLogger collects high-speed process data so engineers can accurately identify the "First Out" condition when equipment or process issues occur. That fast, accurate data collection enables rapid root-cause troubleshooting, minimizes costly downtime, and produces the frequently collected raw data behind more accurate system identification and control optimization.
Some plants restrict direct data entry into the DCS or PLC for security or policy reasons. PiLims lets lab and process staff enter data on a Windows server-based computer and transfer it securely into the DCS or PLC, keeping data accurate and the underlying control system protected.
Yes. Both PiLogger and PiLims offer testing and training capabilities using standard OPC simulation servers, helping engineers and technicians build real-world skills before they work with live plant data.
Request a free demo and a PiControl engineer will walk through APROMON, PiLogger, or PiLims against a process relevant to your plant, and discuss licensing and deployment options for your monitoring and diagnostics needs.
Proof

Process Control Monitoring and Diagnostics Software Used Across Industrial Plants Worldwide

PiControl's monitoring and diagnostics products run in industrial plants across 40+ countries, continuously grading PID, APC, and MPC loop performance, logging high-speed data for fast troubleshooting, and moving lab data securely into the DCS or PLC.

Explore PiControl's Monitoring & Diagnostics Software

Request a demo of APROMON, PiLogger, or PiLims for your plant.

Get started

Request a Monitoring & Diagnostics Demo

See APROMON grade loop performance, PiLogger capture high-speed data, or PiLims transfer lab data securely, live. A PiControl engineer will map the demo to the loops, tags, and lab workflows relevant to your plant.