A Distributed Control System (DCS) is a control system method that is spread, or distributed, among several different unit processes. Controller elements are not central in location but are dispersed throughout the system with each component sub-system controlled by one or more controllers. The entire system of controllers is connected by a network for communication and monitoring.

A DCS is typically a single-vendor solution that includes multiple PLCs, an HMI, a Process Historian, and configuration software. Consequently, a DCS is very tightly integrated and is theoretically easier to configure than the multi-vendor combination of the above components.

See also: PLC, Historian, HMI