工(gong)業(ye)自動化是機器設備(bei)或生(sheng)產過程在(zai)不需要(yao)人工(gong)直接(jie)干預(yu)的(de)情況下，按預(yu)期的(de)目(mu)標實現(xian)測(ce)量，操縱等(deng)信息處理和(he)過程控制的(de)統稱。目(mu)前已廣泛運用于(yu)機械制造，電力，建筑，交通(tong)運輸，信息技術等(deng)領域(yu)，成為提高勞動生(sheng)產率的(de)主要(yao)手段。
工(gong)(gong)業自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)，按(an)其發展階(jie)段(duan)可分(fen)為：。（1）半自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)即部(bu)分(fen)采用(yong)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)控制和自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)裝置，而另(ling)一(yi)部(bu)分(fen)則由(you)(you)人(ren)工(gong)(gong)操作機(ji)器進(jin)行生產(chan)（2）全(quan)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)指(zhi)生產(chan)過程中全(quan)部(bu)工(gong)(gong)序，包括上料，下料，裝卸等，都不需要(yao)人(ren)直接進(jin)行生產(chan)操作，而由(you)(you)機(ji)器連續地(di)，重復地(di)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)生產(chan)出(chu)一(yi)個或(huo)一(yi)批(pi)產(chan)品。
實(shi)現工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)被稱之為工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)。工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)是一(yi)種運用(yong)(yong)控制(zhi)理論，儀(yi)器儀(yi)表，計(ji)算(suan)機和(he)其他信息技(ji)(ji)術(shu)，對工(gong)業(ye)(ye)生(sheng)產過(guo)程實(shi)現檢測，控制(zhi)，優化(hua)(hua)(hua)，調度，管理和(he)決(jue)策，達到增加產量(liang)(liang)，提高質量(liang)(liang)，降低消(xiao)耗，確保安全等目的的綜合性(xing)高技(ji)(ji)術(shu)，包括工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)軟(ruan)件(jian)，硬(ying)件(jian)和(he)系統三大部分(fen)。工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)作為20世(shi)紀現代(dai)制(zhi)造領域中最重要的技(ji)(ji)術(shu)之一(yi)，主(zhu)要解決(jue)生(sheng)產效率與(yu)一(yi)致性(xing)問題。無論高速大批量(liang)(liang)制(zhi)造企業(ye)(ye)還是追(zhui)求靈活，柔性(xing)和(he)定制(zhi)化(hua)(hua)(hua)企業(ye)(ye)，都必(bi)須依靠自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)的應用(yong)(yong)。
而作(zuo)為自動(dong)化技(ji)術的結晶 - 工(gong)(gong)(gong)業自動(dong)化設(she)備，實現了(le)在(zai)無(wu)人干預的情況下，根據(ju)已經設(she)定的指(zhi)令(ling)或者程序，自動(dong)完成工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)流程的任務同時工(gong)(gong)(gong)業自動(dong)化設(she)備具有高(gao)度的自動(dong)化程序，無(wu)需人工(gong)(gong)(gong)操作(zuo);工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)效(xiao)率高(gao)，提(ti)高(gao)企業生產(chan)效(xiao)率;整個工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝的生產(chan)流程穩(wen)定，提(ti)高(gao)產(chan)品的一(yi)致性;適(shi)合大(da)批量生產(chan)，降(jiang)低了(le)企業生產(chan)成本。
隨著工(gong)業(ye)(ye)4.0和中國制造2025的提出和推(tui)進，工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自動化(hua)竟會被運(yun)用(yong)到(dao)更廣泛(fan)的領域！
