What is Automation?

“the technique of making an apparatus, a process, or a system operate

automatically.”

"the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the

production and delivery of products and services.”

The automation profession includes “everyone involved in the creation and

application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery
of products and services”; and the automation professional is “any
individual involved in the creation and application of technology to monitor
and control the production and delivery of products and services.”

Automation encompasses many vital elements, systems, and job functions.

Automation provides benefits to virtually all of industry. Here are some

examples:  
 Manufacturing, including food and pharmaceutical, chemical
and petroleum, pulp and paper

 Transportation, including automotive, aerospace, and rail

  Utilities, including water and wastewater, oil and gas, electric
power, and telecommunications

 Defense

 Facility operations, including security, environmental control,

energy management, safety, and other building automation

Automation crosses all functions within industry from installation,

integration, and maintenance to design, procurement, and management.
Automation even reaches into the marketing and sales functions of these
industries.

Automation involves a very broad range of technologies including robotics

and expert systems, telemetry and communications, electro-optics,
Cybersecurity, process measurement and control, sensors, wireless
applications, systems integration, test measurement, and many, many
more

Source: https://www.isa.org/about-isa/what-is-automation