Process Automation refers, in broad terms, to the automation of these industrial processes to achieve a desired and consistent set of results. Early needs were limited to Process Control only. In order to increase profitability and efficiencies, users have put more emphasis on optimizing their assets, meeting environmental regulations, documenting their production, etc. Therefore, in the past few decades functions like advanced control, alarm management, interfacing with business systems and asset management have taken on increasing importance. This has lead to the development of new Process Automation technologies that utilize sophisticated digital busses, wireless instruments, sophisticated software and applications etc.

This advancement in technology and user needs provides a broad range of opportunities for Engineers. This is especially true in several of the industry segments where future investment in the United States will be substantial, and resources trained in these sophisticated Process Automation technologies limited.