A procedure for the identification of a chemical process as a second-order plus dead time model using square pulse response is proposed, and the model is utilized to obtain the tuning parameters of a PID controller for the process. The tuning technique employs combined open-loop and closed-loop tuning guidelines, of which a new guideline for the maximum closed-loop modulus is suggested. The proposed identification method requires short identification time and results in no significant disturbance in the process from the test. As a closed-loop tuning guideline, a maximum modulus is used, while gain and phase margins are utilized as open-loop guidelines. For the improved implementation of the maximum closed-loop modulus, the relationship between the maximum closed-loop modulus and the damping coefficient of the process is analyzed to find a linear relationship between them and to apply in the tuning. In four example processes, the performance of the proposed technique is compared with that of two other methods employing simple tuning guidelines, and it is found that the proposed method gives a better performance.