Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a distributed control system, which distributed control system is configured for controlling a chemical plant. The is configured is configured for a chemical production process training set of data points is generated. Generating the training set of data points includes applying at least one analytic function, which at least one analytic function represents a steady-state model and links variables of the chemical production process. The data points correspond to variable values of the linked variables. A black box model is trained with the training set of data points. An objective function is defined on optimization variables, which optimization variables are at least partially comprised by the linked variables, which objective function defines an optimum for the optimization variables. Variable constraints are defined which apply to the linked variables.