Recently number of reinstrumentation projects in the process plants has grown to meet the needs to modernize or upgrade the exsisting control systems in a bid to boost productivity and quality. Design, installation and start-up of these process automation systems can be successful and trouble-free only if decision points are addressed properly. The critical decision points are encountered from tile design through the start-up phases of implementing a modernization project and discussed extensively here on a practical basis. Key points are ;to assign a project manager out of the plant instrument engineers for him to organize and lead a project team. ;to follow three critical steps in designing and implementing. :to think ahead of the critical steps and to induce a positive cooperation from all level of participants in the effort to prevent possible schedule delays.