Abstract: A system for automatically or semi-automatically controlling the operation of a tuyere puncher comprises a distance measuring device which measures the distance of the puncher from a reference position, and a programmable device having a memory which may be used to store the position of each tuyere relative to such reference position, the capability of communicating with the distance measuring device to obtain the current puncher position, input capability to read signals from external devices, output capability to control indicating devices and the movement and punching operations of the puncher, and the calculating facility to determine the motion of the puncher to punch all possible punchable tuyeres.