What is automation? - Quesoft Tech

 What is automation?

Let's start by explaining what automation is. An automation system is one in which the mechanisms evaluate their own operation, measuring and correcting it, without the need for a person to interfere.

Automation corresponds to a technology that uses programmed commands to carry out processes while also using retroactive information to ensure that each command is properly carried out.

Thus, process automation is the application of mechanical or computerized techniques to reduce the need for labor. One of the best examples is the use of robots on the production line. Process automation reduces costs and improves production speed.

Automation can still be defined as a series of autonomous equipment that are used in a given process, in order to make it more efficient. Thus, it is possible to optimize production without spending a lot of energy or requiring the constant action of a human being.

The objective is to generate less waste and obtain better safety conditions, both human and material, as well as the safety of information related to the process.

Automation is linked to the concept of Intelligent Business , which encompasses the entire business automation process and its relationship with the human element ( Intelligent Business Automation , IBA).

To end this part about what automation is , let's reproduce what the Michaelis Dictionary says on the subject. Automation is a “system consisting of mechanical or electronic devices, used in factories and commercial establishments, in telecommunications, in hospitals and banking institutions, etc., intended for the operation and control of production processes, which dispenses with the direct intervention of man”.

When did this concept come about?

Automation is a concept that, in practice, began to gain prominence during the Industrial Revolution. During this period, the first machines that moved by themselves appeared, which carried out activities without the need for direct human intervention.

In fact, since antiquity, some automation mechanisms already existed, but it was only after the First Industrial Revolution that they developed and were manufactured on a large scale.

During the Second Industrial Revolution, in the 19th century, automation gained momentum because of the use of electricity in the production cycle.

The Third Industrial Revolution, in the 20th century, was characterized by the presence of computers in the development of the production process in high demand, which allowed relevant advances in the industrial sector.

We are now living in the era of Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which refers to the grouping of technologies for data sharing and automation. In this case, the concept is closely linked to the Internet of Things. In addition, Industry 4.0 is associated with Cloud Computing and cyber-physical systems.

The origin of the word goes back to the middle of the 20th century. The first use is attributed to an executive at Ford, the automotive company that started the mass production of vehicles, contributing to the notion that we have today of industry.

In the late 1940s, the first Ford Automation Department was created by Delmar Harder, coining the term in that process. The factory was mechanized, and car parts were automatically transferred from one station to another. This solution was hailed as the greatest marvel of engineering, also contributing to generate panic among workers, who felt their jobs were threatened, which did not prove to be entirely true.

What is the importance of automation for companies?

In the modern market, it is not enough to present a product to the public, it is necessary for the company to offer competitive advantages, which make the brand stand out from competitors.

The relevance of industrial automation for companies meets the demands of the market, which is becoming increasingly rigorous, with a more demanding public with regard to the quality of products, services and customer service. It also satisfies the needs of industries that require high production potential and also need to reduce costs.

Automation, in its different modalities, allows the company to increase its productivity, as the machines produce with more precision and speed compared to manual activities. The machines improve the quality of the products, as it performs repeated functions without losing quality.

Certainly, having an automation system will improve the user experience, that is, it is a Customer Experience strategy, a concept that companies prioritize in their planning.