A computer-implemented method for controlling behavior of an industrial process, the method comprising: in a digital processor: configuring at least one of optimization preference and optimization priority for each of multiple manipulated variables of an industrial process at a plant; for each of the multiple manipulated variables, translating the respective at least one of optimization preference and optimization priority into a prioritized economic objective function, such that the optimization of the multiple manipulated variables are defined by multiple prioritized economic objective functions; for each of the multiple prioritized economic objective functions, calculating a set of normalized cost factors for use in the respective prioritized economic objective function, wherein the calculating is based on a model gain matrix of manipulated variables and controlled variables of the industrial process; automatically determining best achievable steady-state targets for the multiple manipulated variables, the determining comprising: - solving each of the multiple prioritized economic objective functions in sequence of respective priorities, and - weighting respective manipulated variables of each of the multiple prioritized economic objective function with the corresponding calculated set of normalized cost factors, the solving subject to constraints including: (i) controlled variable best achievable steady-state targets and (ii) manipulated variable best achievable steady-state targets determined from solving higher prioritized economic objective functions; and transmitting control signals to adjust the industrial process at the plant based on the determined best achievable steady-state targets. in a digital processor: configuring at least one of optimization preference and optimization priority for each of multiple manipulated variables of an industrial process at a plant; for each of the multiple manipulated variables, translating the respective at least one of optimization preference and optimization priority into a prioritized economic objective function, such that the optimization of the multiple manipulated variables are defined by multiple prioritized economic objective functions; for each of the multiple prioritized economic objective functions, calculating a set of normalized cost factors for use in the respective prioritized economic objective function, wherein the calculating is based on a model gain matrix of manipulated variables and controlled variables of the industrial process; automatically determining best achievable steady-state targets for the multiple manipulated variables, the determining comprising: - solving each of the multiple prioritized economic objective functions in sequence of respective priorities, and - weighting respective manipulated variables of each of the multiple prioritized economic objective function with the corresponding calculated set of normalized cost factors, configuring at least one of optimization preference and optimization priority for each of multiple manipulated variables of an industrial process at a plant; for each of the multiple manipulated variables, translating the respective at least one of optimization preference and optimization priority into a prioritized economic objective function, such that the optimization of the multiple manipulated variables are defined by multiple prioritized economic objective functions; for each of the multiple prioritized economic objective functions, calculating a set of normalized cost factors for use in the respective prioritized economic objective function, wherein the calculating is based on a model gain matrix of manipulated variables and controlled variables of the industrial process; automatically determining best achievable steady-state targets for the multiple manipulated variables, the determining comprising: - solving each of the multiple prioritized economic objective functions in sequence of respective priorities, and - weighting respective manipulated variables of each of the multiple prioritized economic objective function with the corresponding calculated set of normalized cost factors, - solving each of the multiple prioritized economic objective functions in sequence of respective priorities, and - weighting respective manipulated variables of each of the multiple prioritized economic objective function with the corresponding calculated set of normalized cost factors, the solving subject to constraints including: (i) controlled variable best achievable steady-state targets and (ii) manipulated variable best achievable steady-state targets determined from solving higher prioritized economic objective functions; and transmitting control signals to adjust the industrial process at the plant based on the determined best achievable steady-state targets.