工(gong)業自動化(hua)是機器(qi)設備或生(sheng)產過程在(zai)不需要(yao)人工(gong)直(zhi)接干預的情況(kuang)下，按預期的目(mu)標(biao)實現測量，操縱等信息(xi)處理和過程控制的統稱。目(mu)前已廣泛(fan)運(yun)用于(yu)機械制造，電力，建筑(zhu)，交(jiao)通(tong)運(yun)輸，信息(xi)技術等領域，成(cheng)為提高勞(lao)動生(sheng)產率(lv)的主(zhu)要(yao)手段。

工(gong)(gong)業自(zi)(zi)(zi)動(dong)化，按其發展階(jie)段(duan)可分為：。（1）半自(zi)(zi)(zi)動(dong)化即部分采用自(zi)(zi)(zi)動(dong)控制和自(zi)(zi)(zi)動(dong)裝(zhuang)置，而另一(yi)部分則由(you)人工(gong)(gong)操(cao)作機器(qi)進(jin)行生(sheng)產（2）全(quan)自(zi)(zi)(zi)動(dong)化指生(sheng)產過程(cheng)中全(quan)部工(gong)(gong)序，包括上料，下料，裝(zhuang)卸等，都不需要(yao)人直接(jie)進(jin)行生(sheng)產操(cao)作，而由(you)機器(qi)連(lian)續地(di)，重復地(di)自(zi)(zi)(zi)動(dong)生(sheng)產出一(yi)個或一(yi)批產品。

實現(xian)(xian)(xian)工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術(shu)被稱之(zhi)為工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術(shu)。工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術(shu)是一種運用控制(zhi)(zhi)理論，儀器儀表，計算機和其他信息技術(shu)，對工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)生產過程實現(xian)(xian)(xian)檢測(ce)，控制(zhi)(zhi)，優(you)化(hua)(hua)(hua)，調(diao)度，管理和決策，達到(dao)增加(jia)產量(liang)(liang)，提高質(zhi)量(liang)(liang)，降低消(xiao)耗，確保安(an)全等目的的綜合性(xing)(xing)高技術(shu)，包括工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)軟件(jian)，硬件(jian)和系統三(san)大部分。工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術(shu)作為20世紀現(xian)(xian)(xian)代制(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)領(ling)域中最重要的技術(shu)之(zhi)一，主要解決生產效率與一致性(xing)(xing)問(wen)題。無論高速大批量(liang)(liang)制(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)企業(ye)(ye)(ye)還是追求靈活，柔(rou)性(xing)(xing)和定制(zhi)(zhi)化(hua)(hua)(hua)企業(ye)(ye)(ye)，都(dou)必(bi)須依靠自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術(shu)的應(ying)用。

而作(zuo)為(wei)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化技術的(de)結晶 - 工(gong)業(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化設備(bei)，實現了在無人干預的(de)情況下，根據(ju)已經(jing)設定的(de)指(zhi)令(ling)或者程序，自(zi)(zi)動(dong)完成(cheng)工(gong)作(zuo)流程的(de)任(ren)務同時工(gong)業(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化設備(bei)具有高(gao)度(du)的(de)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化程序，無需人工(gong)操作(zuo);工(gong)作(zuo)效率(lv)高(gao)，提(ti)高(gao)企(qi)業(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)產效率(lv);整個工(gong)藝的(de)生(sheng)(sheng)產流程穩定，提(ti)高(gao)產品的(de)一致性;適合大批量(liang)生(sheng)(sheng)產，降(jiang)低了企(qi)業(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)產成(cheng)本。

隨著工業4.0和中國制造2025的(de)提出和推(tui)進，工業自動化(hua)竟會被運用到更廣泛的(de)領域！