Demystifying Performance Assessment Techniques

Real-time performance monitoring to identify poorly or under-performing loops has become an integral part of preventative maintenance. While some control software packages display performance metrics, it is important to understand the theory, purpose, and limitations since each metric signifies very specific information about the nature of the process. This paper reviews performance measures from simple statistics through complicated model-based performance criteria. By understanding the underlying concepts of the various techniques, readers will gain knowledge of how to use and implement each of the performance criteria. Basic algorithms for computing performance measures are presented using example data sets. A discussion with tips and suggestions provides guidance for interpreting the results