In control theory

Control theory

Control theory is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and mathematics that deals with the behavior of dynamical systems. The desired output of a system is called the reference...

 Advanced process control (APC) is a broad term composed of different kinds of process control

Process control

Process control is a statistics and engineering discipline that deals with architectures, mechanisms and algorithms for maintaining the output of a specific process within a desired range...

 tools, often used for solving multivariable control problems or discrete control problem. Advanced control describes a practice which draws elements from many disciplines ranging from control engineering, signal processing, statistics, decision theory and artificial intelligence
Advanced process control is composed of different kinds of process control

Process control

Process control is a statistics and engineering discipline that deals with architectures, mechanisms and algorithms for maintaining the output of a specific process within a desired range...

 tools, for example:

• Model predictive control
  Model predictive control
  Model Predictive Control, or MPC, is an advanced method of process control that has been in use in the process industries such as chemical plants and oil refineries since the 1980s...
  
   (MPC),
• Statistical process control
  Statistical process control
  Statistical process control is the application of statistical methods to the monitoring and control of a process to ensure that it operates at its full potential to produce conforming product. Under SPC, a process behaves predictably to produce as much conforming product as possible with the least...
  
   (SPC),
• Run2Run (R2R),
• Fault detection and classification (FDC),
• Sensor control
  Sensor
  A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
  
   and
• Feedback systems
  Feedback
  Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
  
  .

APC applications are often used for solving multivariable control or discrete control problems.

Normally an APC system is connected to a distributed control system

Distributed control system

A distributed control system refers to a control system usually of a manufacturing system, process or any kind of dynamic system, in which the controller elements are not central in location but are distributed throughout the system with each component sub-system controlled by one or more...

 (DCS).