What is the importance of industrial automation?

Automation takes a step further mechanization that uses a particular machinery mechanism aided human operators for performing a task. Mechanization is the manual operation of a task using powered machinery that depends on human decision making.

On the other hand, automation replaces the human involvement with the use of logical programming commands and powerful machineries.

Industrial Automation is the replacement with computers and machines to that of human thinking. The word Automation gives the meaning ‘self dictating’ or ‘a mechanism move by itself’ that derived from the Greek words Auto and Matos where auto means self while Matos means moving.

In a brief, industrial automation can be defined as the use of set technologies and automatic control devices that results the automatic operation and control of industrial processes without significant human intervention and achieving superior performance than manual control. These automation devices include PLCs, PCs, PACs, etc. and technologies include various industrial communication systems.

Automation or automatic control, is the use of various control systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes in factories, boilers and heat treating ovens, switching in telephone networks, steering and stabilization of ships, aircraft and other applications with minimal or reduced human intervention.

Advantages:

Automation is making life easier in every realm. Automation and robots are a vital part of modern industries. It helps industries achieve higher level of productivity and precision. Manual labor cannot achieve what machines can. That is why we see so many robots got good jobs to do.

Automation systems are widely used in many industrial jobs, from spray painting to welding to carrying heavy equipment. Industrial robots can produce high-quality goods for the consumers, generate a higher return on investment for the investors, and bring the safety to the workplace.

Produce high-quality goods for the consumers

Unlike human, industrial robots do not experience fatigue and inaccuracies. Instead they can produce high-quality goods at a very fast pace once configure

d properly. For example, robots can manufacture goods with a precision not found in even the most skilled human workers. As a result, companies like Apple can offer consumers high-quality goods at cheap prices.

Generates a high ROI for the investors

Industrial automation systems usually incur a hefty initial investment, but they save manufacturers substantial amounts of money in the long run. A robot is able to produce goods 24 hours a day except scheduled maintenance. The robots are made from materials that are easy to find and easy to fix. It’s much easier to program a robot than to train a human worker.

Bring safety to the workplace

While industrial robots have replaced human workers for many repetitive tasks, they can also perform tasks in dangerous conditions to improve the safety in the workplace as well. With improved safety, there will be less accidents and fewer healthcare concerns.

Automation systems don’t threaten the job opportunities for human workers; instead they open the doors for human workers to be trained to do more interesting, creative and safe jobs. The increased use of industrial robots will lead to fewer jobs for humans in an industrial setting, but more jobs in service, healthcare, education, and the entertainment industries. The repetitive jobs in factories will be dominated by the industrial robots, but the jobs that require creativity will be enjoyed more by humans.