The use of control system or computers to control industrial process and industrial machinery is called industrial automation or numerical automation. In the mechanism the human labor is replaced by sophisticated computers. It is different from mechanization. In mechanization human operators run the machinery as per the requirements of the work. But in numerical automation most of the works are facilitated by the highly improved computers. The whole system and the processes of the industry are automated under the automated system. Industrial automation requires several automation tools. There are several automation tools that make industrial possible. These tools include Distributed control system, human machine interface, laboratory information management system, manufacturing executive system. In addition to it in manufacturing units some other tools applied are programmable logic controller, programmable automation controller, supervisory control and data acquisition, and simulation and field bus.
Industrial automation has got wide application in the today's economic world order. the automation engineers are playing a very important role in the maximizing the efficiency of industries. They create a complex system of human computer interface to facilitate a wide range of application. But industrial automation is not flawless. First, it makes the industry over dependent on the automation system which sometimes backfires. There is always a probability of affecting computers with a number of viruses turning the whole system in fiasco. The potential danger always looms large over the industries.
Social issues involved in the industrial automation have also wide ramifications. It raises many social issues which are very much relevant for the populous countries. Industrial automation affects employment to a great extent. It is a sheer myth that it leads to higher employment. The truth is that it affects unskilled labors most. There is no space for those who are unskilled. This is because automated industries require only skilled labors. But this unleashes a cathartic effect on the labor society. It forces more and more people to take up skilled jobs or makes them try for it. Nowadays the automation is very much advanced. It has replaced even many skilled jobs also. It is advancing rapidly throughout the world. In future it may hamper more and more skilled jobs.
In spite of all these repercussions there is a greater emphasis on the industrial automation. Primarily its main purpose was to maximize the production of the industry. Now the focus has been shifted to enhance the quality of the products which is the need of the hour in the present scenario. Industrial automation has made workforce more flexible and now it is quite feasible to switch over from one product to the other product in an automated system.
Advanced Automation Associates, one of the leading automation control service provider in USA. It provides HMI design and industrial automation.
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