Abstract: Embodiments generate real-time industrial process guidance. One such embodiment receives, in memory of a processor, an operator question relating to a user-specified process variable of a model predictive control (MPC) controller of an industrial process. Next, a real-time simulation is performed of operational scenario(s) of the industrial process using a steady-state optimization problem of the MPC controller to determine operational characteristics of the industrial process in each of the operational scenario(s). Performing the real-time simulation includes, for each operational scenario, modifying a constraint variable of the steady-state optimization problem and, using the modified constraint variable, determining an updated value of the user-specified process variable. The determined operational characteristics of the industrial process include the determined updated value of the user-specified process variable.