The identification of a process model is a critical step in the implementation of model-based control schemes. Process identification tests for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) control problems can be quite time-consuming and disruptive to the process. Thus, there is significant motivation to reduce the duration of the identification tests. In this paper, we compare alternative methods for conducting the plant tests. A detailed simulation case study is used to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various input excitation strategies in terms of the accuracy of the estimated parameters, prediction errors, process gains, and relative gain arrays.