the present invention provides an automated system and method for maintaining compaction , and therefore increased efficiency , of a media bed within a chromatography column . in the preferred embodiment , an adjustment assembly is slidingly engaged inside one end of the column such that it can be moved along the column &# 39 ; s major axis . when idle , the force exerted on this end is equal to the compression on the media . when the column is actively processing chromatographic fluid , this exerted force can be expressed as the sum of the compression on the media , and the force of the fluid being processed . this total force and the fluid pressure are monitored using a load cell and a pressure sensor respectively . the compression force operating on the media bed is then computed based on these measurements and compared to the optimal value . the position of the adjustment assembly within the column is then modified in response to changes in the measured compression force .