Industrial automationInstallation of electrical systems for automation.

A brief history of industrial automation

The concept of industrial automation for economists did not originate today, but over a century ago. Various schools of thought initially classified automation as pure technology, according to which machines are not only responsible for production but also for controlling the product obtained, acquiring sensory capabilities that can replace those of humans. However, this interpretation works to the detriment of the concept of progress, as it excludes human intelligence from effective participation in work and production. As a result, the optimisation and development of production procedures no longer exist, since the entire process is hidden from the eyes of the worker and the entrepreneur, and is simply accepted for what it is.

A more modern interpretation of industrial automation, on the other hand, involves the entire production process. Man interacts less and less with muscle power, and more and more with his own intelligence. He is therefore inclined to monitor and improve the work performed by the machines, to organise all the activities surrounding and integrating the pure production process in the best possible way, and to optimise time, costs and labour. Recalling Henry Ford’s famous quote, ‘True progress only occurs when the benefits of new technology become available to everyone,’ we can conclude that optimising time, costs and labour allows us to produce cutting-edge products that are affordable for everyone. So, we can truly speak of real progress.