Low cost availability of computer software and hardware, and increased computing power have led to the ever increasing computerization and automation of manufacturing operations employing chemical engineers. This trend permeates both established (chemical, petroleum) and developing (microelectronics, biotechnology) industries and has led to the significant growth of process systems engineering. Indeed, process modeling and simulation have become so accurate, fast and inexpensive so as to reduce reliance on plant scale-up. The scope of process design has been expanded to include evaluation of a large number of design alternatives from economic, safety and environmental viewpoints as well as hazard and reliability analysis. Process optimization is routinely pursued in the context of both on-line and off-line applications. Finally, process control and automation projects have become a major vehicle for increasing plant efficiency and abnormal situation management.