A PLS-based multirate dynamic modeling is proposed for quality prediction at a faster rate for multivariable processes with different sampling rates between the process and quality variables. Depending on the nature of the process and quality variables, two model representations are proposed, one-block form for the process with closed-loop quality control, and two-block form for the process without the closed-loop quality control. The applications of the proposed models are compared with respect to two processes, a three-stage absorber and the TE process. The ability of the proposed model to predict quality at a faster rate is demonstrated with the complex TE process. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.