Technology has made our lives a lot easier. With a click of a button, we can purchase stuff, perform banking transactions, contact our friends living miles away, and do much more. But the benefits of technology aren’t limited to the personal level. Most businesses these days use computers, robots, and other automation control components to complete their operations. This saves time, improves efficiency, reduces the risk of manual errors, and provides endless benefits.

What is industrial automation?
Industrial automation is the phenomenon of using machines, sensors, processors, and networks to automate tasks usually performed by humans. A popular example is the usage of robots in a car factory for assembling automobile components. While businesses benefit from automation, it has raised concerns over the displacement of manual labor.

Types of automation
Automation has extensive applications and has been broadly classified into various categories. Here’s a glimpse:

• Fixed automation
  Fixed or hard automation is an automated process that cannot be changed. It is best suited to complete a set of tasks repeatedly; for example, a robot that seals boxes on a factory’s production line. Fixed automation is handy for automating high-demand production tasks.
• Programmable automation
  It involves programming a machine to tell it what to do for a specific period. You can change the code sequences to tell the same machine to perform the same task differently. An example would be the machine that measures the amount of sugar per batch of chocolate in a factory. The quantity of sugar can be increased or decreased as required after reprogramming the machine. Of course, production would need to be stopped temporarily to change the code, leading to downtime.
• Flexible automation
  Flexible or soft automation is an extended version of programmable automation. It has next-to-zero downtime and reduced manual changeover production. It is also more flexible and offers a better production rate.

Components of an automation system
How do these automation devices work? Here are three essential components of a machine automation system:

• Controller
  A controller is the master element of the machine. It can also be called the decision-making part because it provides commands to the entire system.
• Servo motor
  It is an engine that controls the different mechanical components’ speed and accuracy after receiving a signal.
• Sensor
  It detects inputs and converts the information into an electric signal to meet the needs of processing, storage, display, and control.

Choosing the ideal automation control devices
Automation control devices have become indispensable in modern industries. However, choosing the right machines and tools is challenging, given the plethora of options in the market. Here are a few tips to make a smart and informed decision:

• Scalability
  The devices should be able to evolve with your business and adapt to the changing requirements. In this way, you can be assured of better results in the long run.
• Ease of integration
  They should integrate into your existing system easily. Proper integration will minimize disruptions and reduce the excess usage of resources and time.
• Reliability and robustness
  Industrial environments with extreme vibration and heat can damage machines. The components should be able to withstand the impact and operate smoothly.