A number of proportional-integral-derivative (PID)-based self-tuning controllers exist for the control of difficult processes. A common weakness of these self-tuning PID controllers is their inability to cope with dead-time processes. Here, self-tuning controllers based on a pole-assignment approach, which can overcome fractional dead time, constant and known dead time, plus time-varying dead time, are presented. It is shown using the simulation and experimental results that the controllers work well in handling dead-time processes.