From the Editor: Process Control Books Help You Identify Real Experts

Summary

“In the current age of YouTube, TikTok and the like, there’s no shortage of ‘experts’ providing their brand of loop tuning, performance criteria/monitoring, instrument selection, etc.,” said Michael Taube, a process industries consultant and regular contributor to ISA’s long-running Ask the Automation Pros column.

Columnist Greg McMillan had asked 10 automation professionals to provide their recommendations for the most useful books covering measurements, final control elements, control strategies, controller algorithms and controller tuning. McMillan himself is a prolific author and well-known expert with a new book (more on that in a moment), so it seems the perfect time to discuss such books—especially since this issue of Automation.com Monthly is focused on process control.

Taube reminds us that “Too often it seems that people try to make the process fit their preconceived notions of instrumentation, control structure and loop tuning rather than making the instrument selection, control structure and loop tuning fit the process and its operational objectives. Thus, the books that I’ve found most helpful are those that describe the process, the operational intent/objectives and limitations/constraints (both ‘safety’ as well as nominal design), mechanical design considerations (e.g., centrifugal pump/compressor versus positive-displacement, etc.) and types of quality measurements (i.e., lab versus online, inferential, etc.).”
 

Finding the experts

Other contributors to the Ask the Automation Pros column listed a wide range of specific books from ISA and elsewhere, especially Harold L. Wade’s Basic and Advanced Regulatory Control: System Design and Application, an ISA book in its 3rd Edition. Peter Morgan cited McMillan’s Tuning and Control Loop Performance 4th Edition as a book that every student of process control and automation should have at hand.

“This book puts a reference into the hands of automation specialists that is based on a lifetime of experience,” he said.

Books tend to gather and present lifetime experiences in a way that no TikTok video can. Our In Memoriam section this month discusses the life experience of Hans D. Baumann and how it informed his two books, the fifth edition of Control Valve Primer and Fluid Mechanics of Control Valves: How Valves Control Your Process.

McMillan’s life experiences and achievements inform his latest book, Advanced pH Measurement and Control - Digital Twin Synergy and Advances in Technology, Fourth Edition. ISA’s St. Louis section is having him give a presentation based on the book as part of their 2025-2026 Technical Program in October. All advanced registrations include a free copy of the book.
 

ISA books transition

This year, ISA is transitioning its book sales and distribution to its publishing partner, Wiley. That means print titles will be temporarily unavailable via isa.org as of 12 August 2025, but Kindle and ePub formats are still available via the links on each book’s product page. Note: not all books are available in all formats.

Beginning 1 January 2026, print and ebook formats of all ISA books will be available for purchase through Wiley. In the meantime, you can purchase ebook formats from the VitalSource website via the links provided on individual book product pages. Purchase Kindle formats on Amazon.com via the links provided on the individual book product pages.

Whether it’s real-world fundamentals or cutting-edge new techniques, books can provide the experience and insight you need to solve your toughest automation challenges. The automation professionals who take the time to distill and share their knowledge—whether through books or live presentations—are some of the greatest assets of our industry. The International Society of Automation helps you find them.  

_{This column originally appeared in the August/September issue of Automation.com Monthly.}