Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of the shears of a glassware forming machine. The control system incorporates sensors which produce signals representative of predetermined shear positions in each shear cycle, and in particular, makes use of the correlation between the duration of a Zero Crossover Signal and the point of maximum overlap of the shears. The system adjusts the time of deactuation of a fluidic drive assembly, and therefore, the overlap displacement, if the termination of the Zero Crossover pulse falls outside a defined "deadband". The Zero Crossover signal may also be monitored to provide alarm signals or shut the system down.