Control Engineering: Past, present, future insights
- New software tool allows WTWH Media advertisers to look at engagement, company size, job function, titles and other topics.
- What have been the most-impactful Control Engineering articles? So many, but Mark T. Hoske picks 5 among the last 30 years.
- Control Engineering research determines 2025 editorial topics; share your knowledge with your peers.
Control Engineering focuses on the control loop (measure, decide, actuate), and we share information to help others measure, make decisions and improve. Below see a new measurement tool, my opinion of some of the best coverage as we wrap up our 70th year and a look ahead to 2025.
Control Engineering, and other WTWH Media publication customers can look at various metrics using the new WTWH Media measurement tool, CLARA. The data-driven, technology enabled performance platform aggregates audiences to enable marketers to identify and drive return on investment (ROI)-based programs.
Engagement, company size, job function, titles, topics
Engagement (page views) for the period was 577,265 in 2024 through Nov. 28. Audience company size (employees) are: 23% under 200; 30% 201 to 1000; 22% 1001 to 9,999; and 25% 10,000 and more.
Audience job functions are: 35% operations; 33% engineering; 24% IT and 8% sales.
Among top 10 audience domains are Chevron, Shell and Intel. The top 5 general on-site topics are: Variable frequency drive (VFDs); Programmable logic controller (PLCs); Process control; Automation control systems and Automation standardization. Learn more at www.wtwhmedia.com
Opinion: Top stories in the last 30 years
I recently was asked about the most-significant Control Engineering articles among many thousands during my 30 years. Consider these forward-looking topics.
Ethernet everywhere, a 1999 article predicting Ethernet’s use with throughout automation. https://www.controleng.com/articles/ethernet-everywhere
Artificial intelligence, within, a 2003 article explaining AI applications in control engineering. https://www.controleng.com/articles/artificial-intelligence-within
7 things noncontrol people should know about control engineers, 2014
https://www.controleng.com/articles/7-things-noncontrol-people-should-know-about-control-engineers
5 enduring developments in electronic motion control, 2019
https://www.controleng.com/articles/5-enduring-developments-in-electronic-motion-control
Control loops benefit more than control systems, a 2021 summary of an MIT professor’s wider look at the value of control theory.
https://www.controleng.com/articles/control-loops-benefit-more-than-control-systems
New cost analysis: Open process automation saves 52% versus DCS, showing the power of standardization for cost saving and effectiveness
https://www.controleng.com/articles/new-cost-analysis-open-process-automation-saves-52-versus-dcs/
The Global System Integrator Report (GSIR), a collection of articles, research and awards, included with this issue, tops off each year’s coverage of system integration topics, critical to the optimization of controls, automation and instrumentation.
https://www.controleng.com/supplement/global-system-integrator-report-digital-supplement
Research on 2025 editorial topics
To determine 2025 coverage, Control Engineering asked subscribers what they need to do their jobs better. Research results create the annual editorial calendar list: Control Engineering reveals new 2025 topics from subscriber research.
https://www.controleng.com/articles/control-engineering-reveals-new-2025-topics-from-subscriber-research/
Find real-time measures of what’s useful on Control Engineering annual, monthly and weekly articles about the most-read articles at www.controleng.com.
Think again about sharing your knowledge in 2025 with a Control Engineering article or as a webcast instructor.
https://www.controleng.com/connect/how-to-contribute
Mark T. Hoske is editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, [email protected].
