Changyi Petrochemical improved the automatic control rate of its atmospheric and vacuum distillation unit recently, raising it from 79 to 91.9 percent, and stability rate from 65 to 85 percent. It began its improvements of automation rate this past April and, by August, the project was improving places that were not automated or had not hit their automation target, or failed to meet standards. There was a weekly meeting, where the company decided that the automation level of its atmospheric and vacuum distillation unit -- 85 percent with quality crude oil and stable running -- had been low since last year and had barely hit its target in 2012. So, the company got to work on improving the automation. The automation team faced some unprecedented difficulties and used real-time data to find which loops were not up to standard and focused on adjustments after getting approval from the production head, Ma Jingyun. They kept trying various adjustments and carefully went over the control methods when they felt the configurations were not right. If they found that an instrument was inaccurate, staff members would immediately check on it and, if there was even a minor disturbance in the adjustment, they would consult with technology personnel to find out why. The team had clear responsibilities, some for checking trends, some for changing parameters, some for recording, and some for maintaining instruments and they would make a full report every time they adjusted a loop, bearing the number, name, type of loop, valve specifications, PID parameters, trend over the previous three days, and a comparison. It was signed by all participants, along with their opinions. After 20 days of hard work, under the guidance of the CIO, Li Runhai, the team had automated nine manual loops, improved stability on two, and improved four tandem loops and two single ones, bringing the automation rate up to 91.9 percent, and stability to 85 percent.