Industrial automation has transformed continuous process operations. At the heart of this transformation lies procedure automation — the systematic automation of operational procedures that were once executed manually. This book introduces the IEC 63690 standard (equivalent to ISA-106) as an educational guide, not a compliance document.
The IEC 63690 standard is written in formal, legalistic language. Every section of this book has been completely rewritten: complex regulatory language converted to clear explanations, abstract requirements illustrated with concrete industrial examples, and formal definitions translated into practical context. The transformation goes beyond rewording — it is a fundamental redesign of how information is presented while preserving technical content and requirements.
Industrial standards are essential but typically written for experienced professionals, making them challenging for students beginning careers in process automation, new engineers transitioning into procedure automation, experienced engineers learning this domain for the first time, and operations personnel who need to understand what is being automated.
This volume provides a complete introduction to procedure automation fundamentals across thirteen chapters:
This is Volume 1 of a three-volume series. Volume 2 will cover practical implementation techniques for DCS and PLC platforms. Volume 3 will present real-world case studies from actual industrial projects. Together they provide a complete education from foundational concepts through real-world application.
For new learners, begin with Chapters 1–3 for foundation vocabulary, study Chapters 4–5 carefully as they contain the critical frameworks, then progress through Chapters 6–13 to follow a project from strategy through retirement. Each chapter is self-contained for reference use. Training programs will find clear learning objectives, real-world scenarios, and practical advice throughout.
Concepts, frameworks, terminology, models, and methodologies in this book are directly from IEC 63690. Examples and explanations have been added for educational clarity. This book is an educational companion to — not a replacement for — the official standard.