Abstract: A control system is provided for a rolling mill that feeds sheet material from an unwind reel to a rewind reel, passing it between a pair of work rolls. The control system includes a speed sensor for sensing speed of the sheet material and a sensor for measuring material thickness. A force controller controls force exerted on the sheet material by the work rolls. A tension controller controls tension on the unwind reel. A programmed controller is operatively connected to the speed sensor, the force controller and the tension controller, and stores information representing cyclical deviations in thickness of the sheet material and controls the force controller and the tension controller using the stored information and the sensed speed.