Seven Years of Process Computer Control at California Portland Cement Company

The performance of a process computer installation, which was implemented in 1963, is given. Since a computer is not productive in itself but only production supporting, a word of caution is given not to rely too much on systems experts but on the performance of the company personnel who are responsible for the installation. The use of a small computer installation for raw-mix blending and final-mix control is explored along with the question of which will probably pay the most return in a cement plant. A critical view is given of the status of cement machinery in the United States as compared to Europe with a plea to the machinery industry to improve their performance.