- Automated manufacture arose out of the intimate relationship of such economic forces and technical innovations as the division of labor, power transfer and the mechanisation of factory, and the development of transfer machines and feedback systems.
The division of labor was developed in the latter half of the 18th century and was first discussed by the British economist Adam Smith. In manufacturing, the division of labor results in increased production and a reduction in the level of skills required of workers.
Mechanization was the next step necessary in the development of automation. The simplification of work made possible by the division of labor also made it possible to design and build machines that duplicated the motions of the worker. As the technology of power transfer evolved, these specialized machines were motorized and their production efficiency was improved.
Most of the industries use automated machines in all or part of their manulacturing processes. As a result, each industry has a concept of automation that fits its particular production needs. The widespread use of automation and its influence on daily life provides the basis for the concern expressed by many about the influence of automation on society and the individual.
Automation in industry. Автоматизация в промышленности.
What were the main steps in the development of automation?
What were the main steps in the development of automation?