ANALYSIS OF COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES IN PROCESS CONTROL FOR THE DESIGN OF COMPUTER AIDS: An example: the control of a blast furnace

This paper presents the preliminary findings of a research program designed to model diagnosis activity in order to propose a computerized support system for a continuous process characterized by long response latencies: the blast furnace. Part one examines process control from a cognitive point of view. This is followed by methodological considerations. The major features of the control activity are then defined in terms of its main components: supervision, diagnosis, and intervention. Conclusions as regards computerized support system design are put forward.