Apparatus and Method for an intelligent, optimizing, pro-active process controller for use in all types of product processing systems are disclosed. The disclosed controller and its associated apparatus uniquely develop and dynamically optimize their process control capabilities through measuring, monitoring and analyzing product and product container attributes and performance while quantifying variability and can thus pro-actively track, trace and control overall processing performance down to an individual unit of production thereby optimizing product processing times, increasing capacity, improving product quality and reducing variability while enhancing treatment flexibility and food treatment safety in all types of food and drink processing systems, with particular reference to continuous food and drink processing systems. REFERENCES CITEDUS patents 4,067,691January 1978McGady et al 4,739,699April 1988Nelson et al 4,816,269March 1989Nelson et al 5,696,686December 1997Sanka et al 5,872,359February 1999Stewart et al 6,025,189February 2000Bolea et al 6,148,249July 1996Newman 6,416,711July 2002Weng 6,440,361August 2002Weng 6,472,008October 2002Weng patent application 11/620,238July 2007Sands patent application 11/883,740November 2007Mackay et al patent application 12/231,211August 2008Olsen et al patent application 61/079,185March 2009Newman patent application 61/182,696May 2009Newman patent application 61/478,190April 2011Newman patent application 61/488,220May 2011Newman Foreign Patents EP0362975A2October 1989Ackermann EP0808631A1November 1997Hucker GB 2285126December 1993Newman WO0221928A1March 2002Tottenham et at WO0237975A2May 2002Niles WO9807452A1February 1998Walker