Automatically
controlled operation of machinery, process, or system by mechanical or
electronic devices that take the place of human labor.
The
term automation, inspired by the earlier word automatic, was not widely used
before 1947, when General Motors established the automation department. It was during this
time that industry was rapidly adopting feedback controllers, which were
introduced in the 1930s.
Automation provides benefits to virtually all
of industry. Here are some examples:
Manufacturing : food and pharmaceutical, chemical and
petroleum, pulp and paper
Transportation : automotive, aerospace, and rail
Utilities : water and wastewater, oil and gas, electric
power, and telecommunications
Defense
Facility operations : security, environmental control, energy management, safety, and other
building automation and many
others
Automation crosses
all functions within industry from installation, integration, and
maintenance to design, procurement, and management. Automation even reaches
into the marketing and sales functions of these industries.
Enhancing
competitive advantage
Increased
throughput or productivity.
Improved quality
or increased predictability of quality.
Improved
robustness (consistency), of processes or product.
Increased
consistency of output.
Reduced direct
human labor costs and expenses.
Minimisation of
downtimes.
Time saving
diagnostic and maintenance.
Increased
flexibility to meet varying demands.
Increased safety environmant (i.e.
fire, space, volcanoes, nuclear facilities, underwater, etc.)
Economic improvement
Disadvantages
Require skilled labor.
Unpredictable/excessive development costs.
High initial cost
Why is the
Automation Professional so Important?
Think about the cell phone and computer you use every day to do
your job. Think about the car you drive to take to work. Think about the food
you eat; water you drink; clothes you wear; and appliances you use to store,
prepare, and clean them. Think about the television you watch, video games you
play, or music system you listen to. Think about the buildings you visit. Think
about any modern convenience or necessity. Just about anything you can think of
is the result of complex processes. Without talented individuals to design,
build, improve, and maintain these processes, these technological advances
would never have occurred and future innovations would be impossible. Without
automation professionals, our world and our future would be very different.
Automation professionals are responsible for solving complex
problems in many vital aspects of industry and its processes. The work of
automation professionals is critically important to the preservation of the
health, safety, and welfare of the public and to the sustainability and
enhancement of our quality of life. Automation professionals do and will continue to play a crucial
role in protecting us from cyber attack; enhancing our quality of life; and
ensuring the reliability, efficiency, safety, constant improvement, and
competitiveness of our electric power systems, transportation systems,
manufacturing operations, and industry as a whole. Without these individuals,
we cannot advance into the future.
Automatically
controlled operation of machinery, process, or system by mechanical or
electronic devices that take the place of human labor.
The term automation, inspired by the earlier word automatic, was not widely used before 1947, when General Motors established the automation department. It was during this time that industry was rapidly adopting feedback controllers, which were introduced in the 1930s.
Automation provides benefits to virtually all of industry. Here are some examples:
Enhancing competitive advantage
Think about the cell phone and computer you use every day to do your job. Think about the car you drive to take to work. Think about the food you eat; water you drink; clothes you wear; and appliances you use to store, prepare, and clean them. Think about the television you watch, video games you play, or music system you listen to. Think about the buildings you visit. Think about any modern convenience or necessity. Just about anything you can think of is the result of complex processes. Without talented individuals to design, build, improve, and maintain these processes, these technological advances would never have occurred and future innovations would be impossible. Without automation professionals, our world and our future would be very different.
Automation professionals are responsible for solving complex
problems in many vital aspects of industry and its processes. The work of
automation professionals is critically important to the preservation of the
health, safety, and welfare of the public and to the sustainability and
enhancement of our quality of life. Automation professionals do and will continue to play a crucial
role in protecting us from cyber attack; enhancing our quality of life; and
ensuring the reliability, efficiency, safety, constant improvement, and
competitiveness of our electric power systems, transportation systems,
manufacturing operations, and industry as a whole. Without these individuals,
we cannot advance into the future.
