高可靠性 由于DCS将系统控制功能分散在各台计算机上实现，系统结构采用容错设计，因此某一台计算机出现的故障不会导致系统其它功能的丧失。此外，由于系统中各台计算机所承担的任务比较单一，可以针对需要实现的功能采用具有特定结构和软件的专用计算机，从而使系统中每台计算机的可靠性也得到提高。
（2）开放性 DCS采用开放式、标准化、模块化和系列化设计，系统中各台计算机采用局域网方式通信，实现信息传输，当需要改变或扩充系统功能时，可将新增计算机方便地连入系统通信网络或从网络中卸下，几乎不影响系统其他计算机的工作。
（3）灵活性 通过组态软件根据不同的流程应用对象进行软硬件组态，即确定测量与控制信号及相互间连接关系、从控制算法库选择适用的控制规律以及从图形库调用基本图形组成所需的各种监控和报警画面，从而方便地构成所需的控制系统。
（4）易于维护 功能单一的小型或微型专用计算机，具有维护简单、方便的特点，当某一局部或某个计算机出现故障时，可以在不影响整个系统运行的情况下在线更换，迅速排除故障。
（5）协调性 各工作站之间通过通信网络传送各种数据，整个系统信息共享，协调工作，以完成控制系统的总体功能和优化处理。
（6）控制功能齐全 控制算法丰富，集连续控制、顺序控制和批处理控制于一体，可实现串级、前馈、解耦、自适应和预测控制等先进控制，并可方便地加入所需的特殊控制算法。 DCS的构成方式十分灵活，可由专用的管理计算机站、操作员站、工程师站、记录站、现场控制站和数据采集站等组成，也可由通用的服务器、工业控制计算机和可编程控制器构成。 处于底层的过程控制级一般由分散的现场控制站、数据采集站等就地实现数据采集和控制，并通过数据通信网络传送到生产监控级计算机。生产监控级对来自过程控制级的数据进行集中操作管理，如各种优化计算、统计报表、故障诊断、显示报警等。随着计算机技术的发展，DCS可以按照需要与更高性能的计算机设备通过网络连接来实现更的集中管理功能，如计划调度、仓储管理、能源管理等。High reliability because DCS disperses the system control functions on each computer, and the system structure adopts fault-tolerant design, the failure of a computer will not lead to the loss of other functions of the system. In addition, because each computer in the system undertakes a relatively single task, a special computer with specific structure and software can be adopted for the functions to be realized, so as to improve the reliability of each computer in the system.
(2) The open DCS adopts open, standardized, modular and serial design. Each computer in the system adopts LAN communication to realize information transmission. When the system function needs to be changed or expanded, the new computer can be easily connected to or removed from the system communication network, which will hardly affect the work of other computers in the system.
(3) Flexibility through the configuration software to configure the software and hardware according to different process application objects, that is, to determine the measurement and control signals and the connection relationship between them, select the applicable control law from the control algorithm library, and call the basic graphics from the graphics library to form various monitoring and alarm images, so as to easily form the required control system.
(4) It is easy to maintain a small or micro special computer with single function, which has the characteristics of simple and convenient maintenance. When a part or a computer fails, it can be replaced online without affecting the operation of the whole system to eliminate the fault quickly.
(5) Coordination: various data are transmitted between workstations through the communication network, and the information of the whole system is shared and coordinated to complete the overall function and optimization processing of the control system.
(6) The control function is complete and the control algorithm is rich. It integrates continuous control, sequential control and batch control. It can realize advanced control such as cascade, feedforward, decoupling, adaptive and predictive control, and can easily add the required special control algorithm. The composition of DCS is very flexible. It can be composed of special management computer station, operator station, engineer station, recording station, field control station and data acquisition station, as well as general server, industrial control computer and programmable controller. In the process control level at the bottom, data acquisition and control are generally realized locally by decentralized field control stations and data acquisition stations, and transmitted to the production monitoring level computer through the data communication network. The production monitoring level conducts centralized operation and management of the data from the process control level, such as various optimization calculations, statistical reports, fault diagnosis, display alarm, etc. With the development of computer technology, DCs can connect with higher performance computer equipment through network to realize more advanced centralized management functions, such as planning and scheduling, warehouse management, energy management and so on.