Abstract: To enable the operation of a cement manufacturing installation to be controlled by taking into account changes in essential operating parameters as soon as they appear, the quantity of the total theoretical heat (QT) required to convert the raw material to clinker is calculated by applying correcting coefficients to the quantity of a predetermined total nominal heat (QTO) corresponding to nominal values imposed by parameters (K1, K2, . . . Kn) characteristic of the raw material, of the fuel, of the clinker and of the operation of the installation, the correcting coefficients taking into account differences between the nominal values and measured values of said parameters. The quantity of the theoretical heat (QF) to be supplied to the kiln is calculated by deducting the quantity of heat (QP) supplied to the precalcination chamber from the quantity of total theoretical heat (QT).