PURPOSE: To accurately learn the sheet thickness profile of each stand and to predict said profile by actually measuring the sheet thickness profile on the outlet side of the final stand at a set pitch and calculating the actually measured value.

CONSTITUTION: The sheet thickness profile on the outlet side of the final stand is actually measured over the entire region in the sheet width direction in a continuous rolling mill. The prediction model for the sheet thickness profile of each stand is learned at the set pitch over the entire region in the sheet width direction by utilizing the characteristic that the sheet thickness profile propagates to each stand from the actually measured value. The sheet thickness profile for each of the stands is predicted by the learned prediction model. Such learning and prediction are repeated. The profile control is thus easily executed.