Course Overview:
This three-day course offers a hands-on, practical introduction to process automation and control in industrial biomanufacturing settings. Delivered in collaboration with Applikon, Emerson, and Industrial Technology Systems Ltd. (ITS), it’s designed for professionals who want to better understand the role automation plays in improving process consistency, product quality, and compliance.
Whether you’re working with bioreactors, fermentation, or pilot-scale systems, this course explores how to recognise underperforming control systems, how to design better control strategies, and how to build a strong case for automation improvements.
Through real-world examples, software demonstrations, and group discussion, you’ll learn the key concepts that underpin both basic and advanced control strategies, including how to balance control requirements with the realities of a regulated, validated environment.
Who Should Attend?
Engineers or technicians working in bioprocessing, manufacturing, or R&D
QA, validation, or automation professionals seeking a better understanding of control systems
Anyone responsible for optimising bioreactor performance or process control strategies
Those building a business case for improving automation in GMP-regulated environments
What You’ll Learn
Day 1
An overview of the Bio Control Systems Landscape
Why understanding process dynamics is essential to good control design
Introduction to open vs closed loop control, forward/reverse action, PID, and performance metrics
Bioreactor measurement methods and their implications for reliable control
Hands-on controller tuning lab session
Day 2
Advanced control concepts including feedforward, cascade, and ratio control
How bioreactor loop interactions affect control stability, and how to manage them
Cost-benefit analysis to support investment in control improvements
Case studies on industrial bioreactor control at lab and pilot scale
Introduction to statistical process control (SPC) and its role in monitoring
Day 3
Deep dive into advanced control in GMP environments
Software demonstration: putting theory into practice
Control system validation and automation in regulated environments
How to use data effectively from controlled environments to improve outcomes
Why This Course Matters
Delivered by experienced professionals from Applikon, Emerson, and ITS
Bridges the gap between control theory and real-world manufacturing needs
Helps teams understand how to design better bioprocess controls
Provides a framework for justifying investment in automation
Includes lab-based practicals, real examples, and software demos
Ideal for those working in GMP or regulated biotech environments