Houston, Texas– November 10, 2025
Yokogawa Corporation of America, a leader in process automation technology, announced today that Factorial Kernel Dynamic Policy Programming (FKDPP), a reinforcement learning-based AI algorithm, has been honored as a 2025 Vaaler Awards winner. The prestigious recognition was bestowed by an independent panel of experienced engineers from leading operating and engineering companies, who selected Yokogawa as a winner among industry peers in the Instrumentation and Control category.
"Yokogawa is honored to receive the 2025 Vaaler Award for innovation, a recognition that underscores the transformative impact of our FKDPP autonomous control AI solution in driving efficiency, sustainability, and autonomy across chemical processing operations," said Karthik Gopalakrishnan, solutions consultant.
FKDPP is a reinforcement learning AI developed by Yokogawa and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and applied by Yokogawa to the process industries. As the first reinforcement learning AI to autonomously control complex chemical processes, FKDPP complements manual and conventional control methods like PID and APC. It allows plants to balance objectives such as product quality and energy use, without labeled data or lengthy trial runs, building robust models in just 30 learning trials, and reducing implementation time.
Established more than 50 years ago by Chemical Processing, the Vaaler Awards recognizes products and services that dramatically improve the operations and economics of chemical processing plants. The awards honor the legacy of John C. Vaaler (1899-1963), who served as chairman of Chemical Processing's Editorial Board from 1961 until his death and as editor-in-chief beginning in 1946, following 24 years of distinguished service in the chemical and related industries.
The biennial Vaaler Awards program evaluates entries across multiple categories based on three critical criteria: the significance of contribution to chemical plant operations, novelty or uniqueness of the innovation, and breadth of application across the industry. To qualify for the 2025 awards, products and services must have been commercialized in the United States between May 2023 and May 2025.
"The Vaaler Awards celebrate the spirit of innovation that drives our industry forward," said Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief of Chemical Processing. "Companies like Yokogawa Corporation of America exemplify the commitment to excellence and continuous improvement that John Vaaler championed throughout his career. FKDPP represents the kind of breakthrough thinking that not only solves today's operational challenges but also sets new standards for safety, efficiency, and sustainability in chemical processing. We're proud to recognize innovations that make a tangible difference in plant operations and the broader industry."
Chemical Processing will feature the winners at chemicalprocessing.com in December.
About Yokogawa Corp. of America
Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations.
Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 128 companies spanning 62 countries. For more information, visit www.yokogawa.com
Yokogawa Corporation of America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation. Established in 1957, the business is headquartered in Houston, Texas and supported by other domestic manufacturing and service locations across the U.S, Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.yokogawa.com/us
Media Contact:
Christie Cronje
Corporate Communications Manager
Yokogawa Corporation of America
christie.cronje@yokogawa.com
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