Abstract: In an apparatus for performing various operations on stock material, such as advancing, feeding, measuring, cutting and the like, all under the control of a program on a punched tape, an improved punched tape control system wherein the sprocket holes, which are utilized for advancing the punched tape, are also utilized to convey control information. Data is placed on the tape in the form of perforations on parallel longitudinal tracks or channels and the conventional tape advancing sprocket holes also carry data to both control the advancing of the stock material and to synchronize the advancing of the stock material and the advancing of the punched tape. Stock material is advanced only when a sprocket hole is present in the tape and the tape is advanced only when the stock material is operated on in accordance with the data on the tape.