Automation

Automation is the control of machinery and processes used in various industries by autonomous
systems through the use of technologies like robotics and computer software.
Automation is a set of tools, such as software and computer programs, that are designed to
perform repetitive tasks. It is the idea that technology can take care of mundane things so that the
human brain has more time for creative pursuits.

Automation has got both positive effects (advantages) and negative effects (disadvantages) in the
industrial revolution.
The following are the positive effects of automation in industrialization;

Advantages of Automation

I. Higher production rates: Automation is a major part of the manufacturing industry,

allowing for larger production rates with fewer costs and resources. These advantages
have led to automation becoming a more common practice in many different industries.
II. Increased productivity: Automation has been a huge factor in the workforce and is
continuing to grow. With this increase of productivity, companies are able to focus on
more important tasks such as innovation while still completing projects on time. These
projects create value for the company and set them up for further success.
III. More efficient use of materials: New technology is impacting how products are made.
Automation allows for more efficient use of materials and yields higher quality products.
These benefits allow manufacturers to create better products, which leads to lower
production costs, improved consumer satisfaction, and greater return on investment.
IV. Better product quality: Automation is a cost-saving strategy that has been used by
companies for quite some time. In recent years, automation has been adopted more often
in the marketing industry because it enables companies to produce their products faster,
cheaper and with much higher quality. The use of automation will probably continue to
grow as marketers will look to capitalize on the advantages it offers to increase
productivity.
V. Improved safety: Automation has many advantages. It can help to improve safety by
limiting human error, reducing costs, and making the production process more efficient.
This is especially important in industries where there is a high risk of injury, such as
agriculture and mining.
VI. Shorter workweeks for labor: Automation can enable shorter workweeks for labour. By
using automation in place of humans, companies can reduce the number of employees
needed to function at a maximum capacity. This will provide more time for employees to
focus on other tasks such as management, training or development that require human
interaction.
VII. Reduced factory lead times: The benefits of automation can be seen mostly in factories.
Automation reduces start-to-finish factory lead times by 60% or more. This not only
benefits the manufacturing output of a factory, but also the quality and efficiency of a
product.
VIII. Consistency: Automation will bring consistency and stability to the business. It will also
give the business a chance to adapt to changes in what their customers want. This
efficiency is something that businesses are going to want more of as they continue to face
today’s changing market conditions and consumers’ demands.
IX. Saves time: Automation is a huge time saver. It saves time that would have been spent
doing tasks that can now be done automatically with a computer program or machine. A
lot of work has been done in automation and many new innovations are created every day
to make automation more effective.
X. No labor issues: Automation is the key to a labor crisis-free future. It will not only cost
less than people, but it will provide quality services that people are willing to pay for.

Disadvantages of Automation

I. Worker displacement: The most significant disadvantage of automation is the

displacement of human labor. This is because a computerized task can be executed faster
and with greater accuracy than can be achieved by a human. For example, Disney World
has been using self-driving cars for years to transport guests around the park. Many
people are afraid that this will result in fewer jobs for humans.
II. Needs large capital expenditure: Automation has been a staple of industry for many
decades. However, there are some unintended consequences that manufacturers have to
take into account before making the switch to automation. One of these consequences is
the need for large capital expenditure to maintain and service automated systems. These
systems are also more susceptible to cyber-attacks than manual systems would be, which
can leave companies vulnerable if their infrastructure is not properly protected.
III. Can become redundant: Automation is a convenient solution to many problems.
However, this convenience can become redundant in situations where change is
introduced that require the automation to be modified. These types of changes will only
serve to increase the workload of the company, and might cost them precious time and
resources.
IV. Could introduce new safety hazards: Automation could introduce new safety hazards
when operating conditions change unexpectedly. For example, it’s possible that a
driverless car could be programmed to drive autonomously, but can still cause an
accident when a pedestrian steps out into the street under conditions that are less than
ideal (night / low visibility etc.)
V. Still requires human intervention: While the overall benefits of automation have been
proven, there are still certain tasks that require human intervention. We shall consider the
above example of self-driving cars – these machines can detect most obstacles on the
road and can be programmed to stop. However, some specific conditions can cause these
machines to misinterpret information and produce undesired effects – such as driving
through a barrier that is not clearly visible to the car’s sensor.