分布式控制系统有许多特定功能可用，例如操作员界面设备、预防性维护功能、安全级别、窗口、数据库软件、选项、备份选项。因此，花足够的时间审查新的分布式控制系统应实现的目标是很重要的。目标应包括对现有工厂控制方案的修改，这些方案未能掌握对现有过程的适当控制，或需要改进以满足控制预期。重复工作，如每日报告、化学品库存和使用、记录设备运行时间和一般计算，应视为DCS职责的一部分，以便将这些工时用于更高优先级的项目。 人工输入的实验室数据也可以利用系统的趋势分析和计算能力。应与所有相关电厂人员讨论想法，以便将所有可能的想法、建议和节省时间的概念落实到系统中。在帮助制定目标以及将这些目标应用于市场上可用的设备和软件时，设备供应商和顾问通常需要外部帮助。无论选择哪种类型的系统，除非在系统选择过程的早期建立并实施明确、简洁的目标，否则分布式控制系统的优势不会得到充分利用。

There are a number of specific features available with distributed control systems, such as operator interface devices, preventative maintenance features, security levels, windowing, database software, options, backup options. etc. Therefore, it is important to take an adequate amount time to review what goals should be achieved with the new distributed control system. Goals should include modifications to existing plant control schemes which have failed to master the proper control of existing processes, or which require improvement to meet control expectations. Repetitious work, such as daily reports, chemical inventory and usage, logging equipment run times, and general calculations should be considered as part of the DCS responsibility, so that these manhours can be spent on items of higher priority. Manually entered lab data could also take advantage of the systems trending and calculating abilities. Ideas should be discussed with all plant personnel involved, so that all possible thoughts, suggestions, and time-saving concepts can be implemented into the system. Outside help is often essential from equipment vendors and consultants in helping to establish goals and in applying these goals to the available equipment and software on the market. Regardless of the type of system chose, the benefits of a distributed control system will not be utilized to the full extent unless clear and concise goals are established and implemented early in the system selection process.