Advanced Process Control, Optimization and Information Technology in the Hydrocarbon Processing Industries—The Past, Present and Future By George S. Birchfield, Birchfield Consulting, LLC FOREWORD I write this perspective, not as a practitioner, but from the point of view of a business researcher who has tried to benchmark progress, levels of application, critical success factors and the impact on business profitability. Perspectives will differ by company, by discipline and by individual. By no means, do I claim to have the absolutely correct perspective. However I would like to share my perspective in the hope of learning more from other points of view. A historical perspective does heighten respect for the true practitioners and their ongoing saga to master a rapidly advancing technological wave for the economic benefit of their companies and all stakeholders.