DEJ5153

Programmable Logic Control

(PLC)
and Automation
CHAPTER 1
Understand types of automation in industry

Define automation system

Explain the type of automation system:
- Fixed/Hardwired/Conventional automation
- Programmable automation
Compare the type of automation
 AUTOMATION SYSTEM

The word “Automation’ is derived from Greek words…

“AUTO” is SELF
“MATOS” is MOVING

Automation therefore is the mechanism for systems that

“MOVE BY ITSELF”
 AUTOMATION SYSTEM

Definition:
Automation is a set of technologies that results in
operation of machines and systems without
significant human intervention and achieves superior
performance to manual operation
 AUTOMATION SYSTEM

Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the
need for human work in the production of good and services.

use of various control systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes
in factories, boilers and heat treating ovens, switching on telephone networks, steering
and stabilization of ships, aircraft and other applications and vehicles with minimal or
reduced human intervention. Some processes have been completely automated.

The biggest benefit of automation is that it saves labor; however, it is also used to save
energy and materials and to improve quality, accuracy and precision.
 AUTOMATION SYSTEM
IN INDUSTRY
In the scope of INDUSTRIALIZATION, automation is a step beyond
MECHANIZATION

Whereas mechanization provided human operators with machinery to assist

them with the muscular requirements of work, automation greatly decreases
the need for human sensory and mental requirements as well
TYPES OF AUTOMATION SYSTEM

1 Fixed / Hardwired / Conventional Automation

2 Programmable Automation

3 Flexible Automation
 1 Fixed / Hardwired / Conventional Automation

• is used when the volume of production is very high and therefore

it is appropriate to design specialized equipment to process the
product effectively and at high production rate.

• refers to the use of special purpose equipment to automate a fixed

sequence of processing or assembly operations.

Example: Automobile industry, steel rolling, paper production.

 2 Programmable Automation

• is used when the volume of production is relatively low and there are
variety of products to be made.

• the operation sequence is controlled by a program, which is a set of

instructions coded. So that they can be read and interpreted by the
system. New programs can be prepared and entered into the
equipment to produce new products.

Example: Numerical controlled machine tools, industrial robots and

programmable logic controller.
 3
Flexible Automation

• is used for mid volume production size. It possesses some of the

features of both fixed automation and programmable automation.

• is capable of producing a variety of parts with virtually no time lost

for changeovers from one part style to the next. There is no lost
production time while reprogramming the system and altering the
physical set up.
 Automation Advantages Disadvantages
Low unit cost High initial Investment
Fixed High production rate. Relatively inflexible in accommodating
product change
Automated material handling
Flexible to deal with design High investment in general purpose
variations equipment

Programmable Suitable for batch production Lower production rate than fixed
automation
Low unit cost for large batch New product requires long set up time

Continuous production of High unit cost relative to fixed

variable mixtures of product automation
Flexible
Flexible to deal with product High investment
design variation
Medium production rate