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PRODUCTION AUTOMATION (Lecture 3)

3 STEPS TOWARDS AUTOMATION

Main objective of designing a Manufacturing system is to increase the manufacturing efficiency and
labor productivity. These steps have increased the manufacturing efficiency and Labor Productivity, they
are:

1. Introduction of Tools

2. Mechanization

3. Automation

TOOL  Is an extension of hand which performs effective actions

MECHANIZATION  Is the replacement of human physical labor by machines

TOOLS

 Have increased the manufacturing efficiency

 They are then attached to the machine tools due to which the manufacturing efficiency has further
increased

AUTOMATION

 3RD step was the replacement of human mental labor by machines i.e. (the Setup, operations and
control of machine tools, came to be operated automatically, rather then by skilled workers)

Hence,

Mechanization

 Is the replacement of human physical labor by machines, but the control of this machine operation
is effected by human operator. However,

Automation

 Also replaces this control action by machines

 Means the replacement of both human physical and mental activities by machines

Dr. S.A. Shah Page 1


PRODUCTION AUTOMATION (Lecture 3)

Mechatronics

 Plays an important role in Automation

 Means Unification of Mechanics (machines) with regard to Physical labor and Electronics
(computers) with regard to mental labor

Automation (Groover)

 Automation is the technology by which a process or procedure is accomplished without human


assistance

How it is implemented

 By using a program of instructions combined with a control system that executes the instruction

Note:

 Power is required to drive the process, program and control system

Basic 3 Elements of an Automated System

1. Power (To accomplish the process and operate the system)

2. Program of Instructions (To direct the process)

3. Control System (To actuate the instructions)

Kinds of Automation

 There can be 3 directions in which automation can be brought, these directions have pointed the
way towards Automation

1. Automated flow type production (In Manufacturing Industries)

2. Automatic control of continuous production (In Process Industries)

3. Increase in business efficiency (By computers)

 These tendencies created the following types of Automation

1. Mechanical Automation (Manufacturing Industries)

2. Process Automation (Process and Chemical Industries)

3. Office or Business Automation (For office work)

Dr. S.A. Shah Page 2


PRODUCTION AUTOMATION (Lecture 3)

Mechanical and Process Automation → called Factory Automation

Factory Automation (FA)

Mechanical and Process Automation are mainly

 Concerned with direct production processes that convert Raw material into Products (Flow of
Material)

 This type of Automation is called Factory Automation

Office Automation (OA)

 Concerned with management i.e. control of productive activities (Flow of Information)

 When FA and OA are Integrated → Corporate/Enterprise Automation emberges

Low Cost Automation

 Automation with a small amount of capital

 This emphasize on standardized automatic equipment (Actuators, Sensors etc)

 Useful for small businesses

 Used for Mass Production of single product

 Cost effectiveness is great

High Level Automation

 Needs vast amount of Capital

Extended Automation

 Design Automation

 For speedy automatic design and drawing of parts and products (CADD)

 Laboratory Automation

 For automatic measurements, collection and analysis of Test Data

 Store/Sales Automation

 For sales management by computers using (POS) point of sale, techniques

Dr. S.A. Shah Page 3

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