hierarchy control

control system

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Hierarchy control is an advanced application of digital computers in industrial settings, integrating plant operations across all levels, from top management decisions to the precise movement of a valve. This approach aims to manage all control situations simultaneously, requiring sophisticated computers and automatic control devices.1

In contrast, a general control system is a mechanism designed to maintain a variable quantity at a prescribed norm, either by holding it constant or causing it to vary in a specific way. These systems can operate using electricity, mechanical means, or fluid pressure. Hierarchy, in the social sciences, refers to a ranking of authority, often involving a chain of command and control, where authority is delegated downward.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

control system
Modern control practices.
Hierarchy control attempts to apply computers to all the plant-control situations simultaneously. As such, it requires the most advanced computers and most sophisticated automatic-control devices to integrate the plant operation at every level from top-management decision to the movement of a valve.
Read More
Hierarchy control attempts to apply computers to all the plant-control situations simultaneously. As such, it requires the most advanced computers and most sophisticated automatic-control devices to integrate the plant operation at every level from top-management decision to the movement of a valve.
Read More