工業自動化是機器設備或生產過程在不(bu)需(xu)要人工直接干預的情況下，按預期(qi)的目標實現(xian)測量，操縱等信息處理(li)和過程控制的統稱。目前已廣泛運用(yong)于機械制造，電力(li)，建筑，交通運輸，信息技(ji)術等領域，成(cheng)為提高勞動生產率的主(zhu)要手(shou)段(duan)。

工(gong)(gong)業自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)，按其發展階(jie)段可分(fen)為(wei)：。（1）半自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)即部(bu)分(fen)采用自(zi)(zi)動(dong)控制和自(zi)(zi)動(dong)裝置，而(er)另一(yi)部(bu)分(fen)則由人工(gong)(gong)操(cao)作(zuo)機器進(jin)行生產（2）全自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)指生產過程中全部(bu)工(gong)(gong)序，包括上料，下料，裝卸等，都不需要(yao)人直接(jie)進(jin)行生產操(cao)作(zuo)，而(er)由機器連續地，重復(fu)地自(zi)(zi)動(dong)生產出一(yi)個或一(yi)批(pi)產品。

實現(xian)工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)術(shu)被稱之為工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)術(shu)。工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)術(shu)是(shi)一(yi)種運用(yong)(yong)控制(zhi)(zhi)理論，儀器(qi)儀表，計算機和其他信息技(ji)術(shu)，對(dui)工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)生(sheng)產過程實現(xian)檢測，控制(zhi)(zhi)，優化(hua)(hua)(hua)，調度(du)，管理和決(jue)策(ce)，達到增加產量，提高質量，降低消耗(hao)，確保安全(quan)等目的(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)綜合性高技(ji)術(shu)，包括(kuo)工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)軟件(jian)，硬(ying)件(jian)和系統三(san)大部分。工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)術(shu)作為20世紀現(xian)代制(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)領(ling)域中(zhong)最重要(yao)的(de)(de)(de)技(ji)術(shu)之一(yi)，主(zhu)要(yao)解決(jue)生(sheng)產效率與一(yi)致性問(wen)題(ti)。無論高速大批量制(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)企業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)還是(shi)追求(qiu)靈活，柔性和定制(zhi)(zhi)化(hua)(hua)(hua)企業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)，都必須依靠自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)術(shu)的(de)(de)(de)應(ying)用(yong)(yong)。

而作為自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)技(ji)術的(de)結晶 - 工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)設備(bei)，實現了(le)在無人干預(yu)的(de)情況下，根據已經設定的(de)指令或者程序(xu)，自(zi)動(dong)(dong)完成(cheng)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)作流(liu)程的(de)任(ren)務同(tong)時工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)設備(bei)具有高(gao)度(du)的(de)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)程序(xu)，無需人工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)操作;工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)作效率高(gao)，提高(gao)企業(ye)生(sheng)產效率;整個工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)藝的(de)生(sheng)產流(liu)程穩定，提高(gao)產品的(de)一致性;適合大批量生(sheng)產，降低了(le)企業(ye)生(sheng)產成(cheng)本。

隨著工業4.0和中國制造2025的(de)(de)提(ti)出(chu)和推進，工業自(zi)動化(hua)竟(jing)會(hui)被運(yun)用到更廣泛(fan)的(de)(de)領域(yu)！