subject: Defining Automation in Engineering [print this page] Defining Automation in Engineering Defining Automation in Engineering
In the world of engineering, automation is the use of control systems in conjunction with other applications of information technology (i.e. Computer technology) to assist and control industrial machinery and processes, thereby reducing the overall need for human intervention. The best examples of automation in everyday arenas can be seen at large factories such as textile manufacturers, auto manufacturers and other various types of manufacturing companies.
The bottom line is that automation makes our lives easier. By having machinery handle what once was done by human beings, it cuts down on the amount of time it takes to produce something and in many ways, makes the process in which items are produced more efficient. While problems may arise during the automation process, it is typically a no-brainer, error free operation. In many situations, the machines that are used during the automation process do not operate entirely by themselves, nor do the human beings who work in factories operate alone. Rather, mechanization provides people with machinery that will assist them with the muscular or physically laborious aspects of their work.
Today, there are numerous factories and facilities that produce massive quantities of parts as well as other pieces of technology that is used throughout the automation process. If you are not familiar with this industry, then terms such as GE Fanuc and Schneider Electric Modicon may sound foreign to you. However, it is largely because of all of these technological advances that automation is even possible. If we didn't have the technology or machinery available to us, then chances are that it would take an extremely long time to produce many items that we use on a daily basis. This is certainly something worth considering when we think to the millions of uses of machinery and technology.
Technology, while helpful, is not always perfect however. It is for this reason that companies hire specialists who can tailor a particular machine to function better or who will know how to repair a machine if it is damaged or broken.
