May and June’s most-read stories reveal how digital twins, standardization and workforce shifts are redefining modern manufacturing.
The most-read stories from May and June reflect an industry in transition, balancing technical mastery with the rise of autonomous operations. While readers remained deeply engaged with core engineering topics, including PID performance limits and power quality fundamentals, there was a clear surge in interest regarding how AI and digital twins are moving from theory to measurable application.
From the results of the 2026 Career and Salary Survey to strategic insights on HMI standardization and automation mergers, this month’s top articles highlight a strategic focus on data readiness. Whether honoring the legacy of industry leaders or navigating the challenges of a tightening labor market, these trends show a community prioritizing agility and technical depth to bridge the gap between traditional process control and the future of smart manufacturing.
1. PID spotlight, part 28: How well will my PID controller work?
What measures of PID controller performance should we care about? How do our tuning choices affect performance? Does the process lag/deadtime ratio limit how well a PID controller can perform, and can we estimate performance?
2. Rick Pierro, Superior Controls co-founder, dies at 66
Rick Pierro, co-founder of Superior Controls (now part of E Tech Group), served in multiple positions in the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) and was a Control Engineering Editorial Advisory Board member, among other industry achievements. Superior Controls was System Integrator of the Year for 2012.
3. Results are in: Control Engineering Career and Salary Survey, 2026
Benefits and salaries decreased. Artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation application upgrades top the list of leading automation technologies. Lack of skilled workers and the economy are the leading manufacturing business challenges.
4. Latest automation mergers, April 2026: controls, robotics, system integration
The Bundy Group reported 14 automation transactions in its April 2026 summary reports. Analysis on the acquisitions and reports are highlighted below including transactions involving Agile Robotics, Martin CSI, Yaskawa America and others.
5. Digital twins deliver new capabilities, value for industrial applications
Digital twins can create a shared reality for operations, as part of an open digital ecosystem, as experts discussed at ARC Leadership Forum, 2026. See recommendations on how to received concrete benefits.
6. Industrial AI, performance optimization, better OT data needed
“Powering your performance: Process opening keynote” explained how the next generation of industrial operations must be agile, efficient and increasingly autonomous at Aspen Technologies “Optimize 26” conference and training keynote May 11, 2026.
7. Power quality fundamentals, VFD impacts
Power quality can significantly impact facility and utility electrical systems, including causing equipment outages and failures. This article describes the basics of power quality, identifies the types of disturbances and how to monitor and mitigate them, and explains how VFDs can affect power quality.
8. AI expert explains trends in AI automation integration
Trends in industrial artificial intelligence were part of ARC Leadership Forum, 2026 discussions, including how AI software integration into automation software helps autonomous operations.
9. Five steps to advance HMI performance with standardization
From fragmented to harmonized: Industrial human-machine interfaces (HMI) can become cluttered and inconsistent over time, posing risks to operational efficiency, reliability and safety. A five-phase process for HMI modernization begins with discovery and ends with measurable results.
10. PID spotlight, part 29: How to shape PID controller response – self-limiting processes
You need aggressive control to manage disturbances, but when you change setpoint the control response upsets the process. How can you shape the controller response to meet your needs?
Check out the top articles from May here.
