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Distributed Control Systems for Bioprocessing Operators



Learn the basic features of a commercial distributed control system (DCS) and how to interface with an operator workstation (HMI) to monitor and control bioprocessing equipment. Hands-on experience with DeltaV Live including logging in, alarming, faceplates, interlocks, control modes, equipment modules, and batch recipes. Lectures cover the underlying control loops and sequences for both upstream and downstream unit operations, while lab activities focus on their application specifically to a pilot-scale bioreactor.

DatesCourseCostRegistration
May 12-13, 2026Artificial Intelligence in FDA-Regulated Manufacturing: From Foundations to Implementation$1,500 (2026 registration closed)
May 20–21, 2026Hands-On Essentials of Automation for Biomanufacturing$2,050 (2026 registration closed)
May 27–29, 2026Preparative Chromatography Column Packing: Lab to Process Scale$2,500
June 3–4, 2026Applied Cleaning Validation Practices: A STERIS Master Class$2,000 (2026 registration closed)
June 9–10, 2026Introduction to Biopharmaceutical Lyophilization$1,975 (2026 registration closed)
June 11, 2026Essentials of Spray Drying and Powder Analysis$995 (2026 registration closed)
June 16–18, 2026Fundamentals of Mammalian Cell Line Development$3,100 (2026 registration closed)
June 23–25, 2026Biopharmaceutical Assay Essentials$3,100Register
June 23–25, 2026Fermentation Engineering$3,100Register
June 30–July 2, 2026Hands-On Principles of mRNA Technology$2,500 (2026 registration closed)
July 8–10, 2026Downstream Biopharmaceutical Processes: Fundamentals and Design$3,100Register
July 14–16, 2026AAV Quality Attributes: Theory and Practice$2,975Register
July 14–17, 2026Hands-On cGMP Biomanufacturing Operations$4,200Register
July 28–31, 2026Hands-On Biomanufacturing of Vectors for Gene Therapy$4,500Register
Aug 6, 2026Design of Experiments for Biomanufacturing$500*Register
Sept 29–Oct 1, 2026Cell Culture Engineering$4,200Register
Oct 9, 2026Distributed Control Systems for Bioprocessing Operators$775Register
Oct 13–16, 2026Applied Principles and Techniques of Depth Flow Filtration (DFF) and Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) for BioPharm Purification$3,995Register
Oct 28-29, 2026Continuous Processing for Production of Biopharmaceutical Products$995Register
Nov 10–12, 2026PAT for Real-time Culture Monitoring and Closed-Loop Process Control$2,975Register
TBDMicrobial Contamination Control in Bioprocessing Operations$2,975

Register by September 25

Attend and you will learn 

  • How a DCS is structured and the role of instrumentation, control modules, and equipment modules, and recipes for process control
  • To use commercial control system software (DeltaV) to monitor and control bioprocess equipment
  • How to distinguish between discrete and analog devices and how they are utilized for process control
  • The difference between various feedback control strategies including cascade control and split-range control
  • The principles behind a sequential function chart and how to execute them via equipment modules and batch recipes in DeltaV

Delivery methods

45% Lecture
55% Lab

Course content

40% Fundamentals and concepts
60% Industry applications
7.5 hours of instruction

Who should attend


This course is intended for individuals interested in pursuing a career in the Life Sciences field who want operator training on a DeltaV Live workstation with a focus on automation concepts and how process control is deployed.  This course is appropriate for upstream and downstream operators who want to gain more familiarity with the DeltaV HMI and with how instrumentation, modules and/or recipes are used to control bioprocessing unit operations and equipment.

Professional certificate

This course can count toward your Special Topics Professional Certificate in Biomanufacturing Science.

Instructors 

Important Information for Course Participants

Please read about BTEC’s policies on payment, cancellation, pre-course communication and other important information for in-person courses offered on site at BTEC.