Distributed Control Systems

The Distributed Control Systems Market Research delivers current market analysis plus a five year market and technology forecast. The study is available in multiple editions including worldwide, all regions, and most major countries. The research covers industrial control systems, open process automation, virtualization, characterizable I/O, configurable I/O, batch, quality control, supervisory control, continuous process, strategic analysis, market size, industry trends, historical analysis.

Software Defined Architecture Gains Traction in Real World Distributed Control Systems Applications

Many Distributed Control Systems (DCS) suppliers have released a new generation of offerings in which the industrial control system is virtualized and “software-defined” to a much greater degree than in previous models. By leveraging virtualization, modular architecture, and open standards, Software Defined Architecture (SDA) helps manufacturers accelerate system design and deployment. Research shows adopting SDA allows manufacturers to reduce time to market by 50 percent and commissioning time by 60 percent. SDA also allows manufacturers to adapt production lines quickly to meet changing customer demands and shorter product lifecycles

Distributed Control Systems Strategic Issues

Distributed Control Systems Market Trends

In addition to providing a five-year market forecast, the Distributed Control Systems Market Research provides detailed quantitative current market data and addresses key strategic issues as follows.

Reduce Cost and Complexity with New Technologies and Processes

New automation technologies and work processes can bring significant economic benefits, but much of the future success for end users will depend on their ability to embrace not only modern technologies but also the new work processes that are essential to their success. If firms continue to implement traditional technologies and work processes, they will continue to be burdened by the unnecessary costs, complexities, and inefficiencies of the past. Innovative approaches and implementation of modern technologies are required to take projects to the next level of performance. Standards organizations like NAMUR and cross-industry initiatives like OPAF, both with strong input from the end user community, are notable examples of how end users themselves can drive change in the technologies offered by automation suppliers.

Modular Plant Designs

Modularization breaks down systems, plants, processes, and unit operations into standard, modular components, much like those popular children’s building bricks that can be mixed and matched freely to make any number of different creations. While modularization is not a new concept for plants in the discrete and hybrid manufacturing industries, building plants in a modular fashion is even becoming practical for end users in the heavy process industries including petrochemical, refining, and power generation. For example, plants being built in the US are sourcing process modular components from places such as Korea, Mexico, and the Philippines, which are then assembled on-site.

Plant control system architectures are also becoming more modular. DCS now has a new generation of “single point” I/O that can be either individually characterized with specific plug-in modules or software-configurable single-point I/O. These new forms of I/O also make standard, modular cabinets, and field enclosures more feasible. ARC also sees an increased use of remote instrument enclosures, which are self-contained modules of I/O, controls, and related equipment that can be deployed quickly. Finally, innovative approaches to automation system design that incorporate late binding techniques and utilize engineering in the cloud and virtualization concepts also support modularization.

Execute Capital Projects Using a MAC/MEC

End users may find it beneficial to extend the main automation contractor (MAC) concept to include electrical equipment and systems, especially for large greenfield projects. The MAC concept has been utilized for many years and can yield savings in project engineering costs for automation. This approach involves assigning one automation supplier the responsibility for procuring, engineering, configuring, and commissioning all field instrumentation, DCS, safety systems, and related applications. Engaging the MAC in the project early can streamline schedules, simplify communications, and reduce late-stage rework. Some large global automation suppliers have the product range and expertise to act as both the main electrical contractor (MEC) and MAC, potentially further lowering project engineering costs.

Market Data Research Available Datasets

This in-depth market data research is split into two key modules: Market Growth Outlook and Competitive Analysis.  Each of these modules is further configured into several sub-modules to meet the needs of executives as well as marketing, sales, and product development managers.  All of these modules and sub-modules may be purchased as a bundle or separately.  A brief description of these modules, sub-modules, and their use cases is included below.

Market Growth Outlook

ARC’s market growth outlook service delivers an in-depth market opportunity analysis including five-year market and technology forecasts and 3-year history trend lines where available. Besides providing an in-depth analysis of the market opportunity provided by each technology, this service allows technology suppliers to analyze their own customized markets consisting of multiple technologies. For example, customers can view different market scenarios by adding or removing technology markets from the analysis, providing them a Total Available Market (TAM) view of their own served market. A list of the available market growth outlook services can be seen in the list below.  

This service is designed to help accelerate your organization's ability to understand an up-to-date view of the market opportunity provided by your current product portfolio and analyze how your company’s market opportunity would change if you were to acquire or divest a particular product line. The service will also help you identify and capitalize on emerging markets, whether these markets are based on an emerging technology, region, vertical industry, or application. Built upon a proprietary market model and ARC’s field proven primary research, this service helps product and marketing managers optimize their business plans by identifying the opportunities provided by emerging trends. ARC’s reputation as the preeminent independent provider of market growth opportunity analyses for nearly four decades also provides greater weight to your business plans. ARC’s market growth outlook services are available in a variety of formats depending on whether you view your market opportunities via different technologies, industries, or world regions.  

In addition, ARC has a strong history of providing customized market opportunity reports and services to meet your specific needs.  For example, you may sell your products only to specific industries and/or in only one or two regions. You tell us your served markets and ARC can quickly configure a report or service designed to best serve your served market.

ARC provides several versions of these reports and services depending on your role in the organization. Executive Views are high level market opportunities designed to help executives quickly identify key trends and market opportunities around the world.  In-depth market opportunity analyses provide marketing and product managers more detailed technology specific market information to plan marketing and product development strategies.  The following table shows more specific information included in each version.

Market Growth Outlook AnalysisUse CasesTarget Role
Worldwide Market Growth Outlook by Industry & Region with 3-year history where availableIn-depth technology-specific strategic growth planning across multiple technologies, applications, regions, and industriesProduct & Marketing Managers
Worldwide Industry Growth Outlook by Region with 3-year history where availableStrategic technology growth planning for markets defined by a single or multiple vertical industriesIndustry Managers
Regional/Country Market Growth Outlook by Technology & Industry with 3-year history where available (includes country data)Strategic technology growth planning for markets defined by a single or multiple world regionsRegional & Country Sales Managers
Market Growth Outlook Executive ViewStrategic Total Available Market (TAM) growth planning dashboard covering multiple vertical industries, technologies, and world regionsExecutives
Market Competitive Analysis

ARC’s Competitive Analysis services deliver in depth competitive analyses across multiple technologies, applications, regions, and industries.  Besides providing an in-depth analysis of the market opportunity provided by each technology, this service allows technology suppliers to analyze their own customized markets consisting of multiple technologies. For example, customers can view different market scenarios by adding or removing technology markets from the analysis, providing them a Total Available Market (TAM) view of their own served market. A list of the available market growth outlook services can be seen in the list below.  

This service is designed to help product and marketing managers identify their company’s market positioning across multiple views within their Serviceable Available Market (SAM). Built upon a proprietary market model and ARC’s field proven primary research, this service helps product and marketing managers optimize their business plans by identifying how their company’s market position would change if the company were to acquire or divest a particular product line or technology. ARC’s reputation as the preeminent independent provider of competitive market benchmarking for nearly four decades lends greater weight to your business plans. ARC’s market competitive services are available in a variety of formats depending on whether you view your market opportunities via different technologies, industries, or world regions.  

In addition, ARC has a strong history of providing customized market opportunity reports and services to meet the specific needs of our clients.  For example, you may sell your products only to specific industries and/or in only one or two regions. You tell us your served markets and ARC can quickly configure a report or service designed to best serve your served market.

ARC provides several versions of these reports and services depending on your role in the organization. Executive Views are high level market competitive analyses designed to help executives quickly assess their SAM by world region, technology, or vertical industry. In-depth competitive market analyses provide marketing and product managers more detailed technology specific benchmarking information to plan marketing and product development strategies.  The following table shows more specific information included in each version. 

Competitive AnalysisUse CasesTarget Role
Worldwide Competitive Analysis by TechnologyIn-depth competitive market analysis that quantifies how your company’s market position has changed over time across multiple technologies, applications, regions, and industriesProduct & Marketing Managers
Worldwide Competitive Analysis by IndustryStrategic technology-based competitive analyses for markets defined by a single or multiple vertical industriesIndustry Managers
Regional/Country Competitive Analysis by IndustryStrategic technology-based competitive analyses for markets defined by a single or multiple world regionsRegional Sales Managers
Competitive Analysis Executive ViewStrategic Serviceable Available Market (SAM) analysis dashboard covering multiple vertical industries, technologies, and world regionsExecutives

Worldwide Research Focus Areas

Strategic Analysis

  • Executive Summary
  • Market Trends
  • Buyer Strategies
  • Supplier Strategies
  • Growth Contributors
  • Growth Inhibitors

Competitive Analysis

  • Market Shares of the Leading Suppliers
  • Market Shares by Region
    • North America
    • Europe, Middle East, and Africa
    • Asia
    • Latin America
  • Market Shares by Revenue Category
    • Hardware
    • Software
    • Services
  • Market Shares by Hardware Type
    • Controllers
    • I/O
    • Workstations
    • Networking Hardware
  • Market Shares by System Size
    • Small
    • Medium
    • Large
  • Market Shares by Service Type
    • Operations
    • Project Management
  • Market Shares by Application
    • Batch
    • Continuous Process
    • Quality
    • Supervisory Control
  • Market Shares by Project Type
    • New Construction
    • Replacement
    • Upgrade/Expansion
  • Market Shares by Industry
    • Cement & Glass
    • Chemical
    • Electric Power Generation
    • Food & Beverage
    • Metals
    • Mining
    • Oil & Gas
    • Pharmaceutical & Biotech
    • Pulp & Paper
    • Refining
    • Water & Wastewater
  • Market Shares by Sales Channel
  • Market Shares by Customer Type

Market Forecasts and Histories

  • Total DCS Business
  • Shipments by Region
    • North America
    • Europe, Middle East, and Africa
    • Asia
    • Latin America
  • Shipments by Revenue Category
    • Hardware
    • Software
    • Services
  • Shipments by System Size
    • Small
    • Medium
    • Large
  • Shipments by Hardware Type
    • Controllers
    • I/O
    • Workstations
    • Networking Hardware
  • Shipments by Service Type
    • Operations
    • Project Management
  • Shipments by Industry
    • Cement & Glass
    • Chemical
    • Electric Power Generation
    • Food & Beverage
    • Metals
    • Mining
    • Oil & Gas
    • Pharmaceutical & Biotech
    • Pulp & Paper
    • Refining
    • Water & Wastewater
  • Shipments by Application Type
    • Batch
    • Continuous Process
    • Quality
    • Supervisory Control
  • Shipments by Project Type
    • New Construction
    • Replacement
    • Upgrade/Expansion
  • Shipments by Sales Channel
  • Shipments by Customer Type

Industry Participants

Profiles of the major suppliers servicing this market are included.

Regional Research Focus Areas

Strategic Analysis

Competitive Analysis

  • Leading Suppliers in Region
  • Industry Shares in Region
  • Country Shares in Region
  • Leading Suppliers by Industry

Market History & Forecast Analysis 

  • Market History & Forecast by Country
  • Market History & Forecast by Industry

Industry Participants

List of countries & currencies included in each region: MIRA-Country

For More Information

For more information or to purchase the Distributed Control Systems Market Research, please contact us.

Learn more about ARC In-depth Research at Market Analysis

Learn more about ARC Strategic Services at Advisory Services for Industry Leaders 

Representative End User Clients
Representative Automation Clients
Representative Software Clients