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:
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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