This paper presents the integration of the output controllability index within the dynamic operability framework to facilitate controllability and economic assessment of process system design for regulatory cases. The framework utilises the geometric representation of feasible operating region as well as input, output and disturbance spaces, in terms of their convex hulls. The geometric operations amongst these convex hulls replace most of the inequalities on the original framework. In addition to the best feasible operating conditions, which are the original outcome, the framework also provides a controllability index involving all of the output variables (generalised integral absolute error, GIAE) and the expected variation of profit on disturbance rejection dynamics. The applicability of the proposed framework is demonstrated on a nonlinear chemical process system with a fixed control structure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.