SUMMARY OF AUTOMATION, PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER-INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING FOURTH EDITION BY MIKELL P. GROOVER

Abstract

The word manufacturing derives from manus (hand) and factur (make), where the combination means made by hand. The manufacturing operation is concerned with transforming materials into items with greater value; the manufacturing process has adopted the automation system for the production system. Automation refers to mechanical equipment that performs physical tasks without the need for oversight by human workers. An automated system consists of three basic elements: the power to accomplish the system's operation, a program of instructions to direct the process, and a control system to actuate the instructions. The control system causes the process to accomplish its defined function, which performs several manufacturing operations. The controls in an automated system can be either closed-loop or open-loop, using discrete control and programmable logic controller. Sensors and actuators also support the logic controller's role in industrial control systems, which can be used for robotics.