Contrôles

Contrôles is a term used in French and English to refer to mechanisms or procedures that influence, regulate, or verify the behavior of a system. It can denote physical devices such as knobs, levers, pedals, or switches, as well as abstract mechanisms in software and processes. The word covers both control actions and the checks that ensure correct operation or compliance. In French, expressions like contrôle qualité (quality control) and contrôle de conformité (compliance control) illustrate its dual meaning.

In engineering and control theory, a control system uses sensors, actuators, and a controller to drive outputs toward a desired state. The goal of feedback control is to minimize error, using strategies such as PID control, feedforward, and adaptive methods. Control systems can be open-loop or closed-loop and appear in automation, robotics, HVAC, and avionics.

In management and governance, internal controls are procedures designed to ensure reliable financial reporting, compliance with laws, and asset protection. This includes segregation of duties, approvals, reconciliations, and audit trails. In manufacturing and service delivery, quality controls monitor processes, often using statistical process control charts to detect deviations and prevent defects.

In information security and IT, controls are safeguards to protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. They are categorized as preventive, detective, or corrective, and include access control, authentication, encryption, logging, and system hardening. User interface controls, input validation, and error handling are essential to prevent misuse and errors.