Model-based tuning rules of the PID controller are proposed incorporating with real-coded genetic algorithms. The optimal parameter sets of the PID controller for step set-point tracking are obtained based on the first-order time delay model and a real-coded genetic algorithm as an optimization tool. As for assessing the performance of the controllers, performance indices(ISE, IAE and ITAE) are adopted. Then tuning rules are derived using the tuned parameter sets, potential rule models and another real-coded genetic algorithm A set of simulation works is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed rules.