A comparison between asymptotic and non-asymptotic identification algorithms for a first-order plus time delay system is discussed. This paper describes three methods to identify a mathematical model for a real process with a time delay from experimental data, namely: area, parametric and algebraic methods. These methods are all demonstrated on the Process Trainer, PT326 from Feedback Instruments Limited. The main goal of this communication is to test the robustness and convergence of each method. The best results are obtained using the algebraic approach recently proposed in [1]-[3] and widely studied in [4], [5].