Mechanisation

Mechanisation

Mechanisation is the process of using machines and gadgets to perform tasks that were earlier done by hand or with simpler tools. It is a step beyond basic tool use — the focus is on replacing human or animal muscle power with mechanical power.

The textbook makes a clear distinction between mechanisation and its advanced stage, automation. In mechanisation, a human operator is still needed to guide the machine, make decisions, and control the process. Automation, on the other hand, removes the need for human thinking during the actual manufacturing process. The machine not only does the work but also monitors itself and adjusts its own operation.

The most sophisticated form of automation described here involves automatic factories equipped with feedback and closed-loop computer control systems. In such a system:

• Sensors constantly measure what the machine is doing (e.g., temperature, pressure, speed).
• This data is fed back to a computer.
• The computer compares the actual output with the desired output.
• If there is a deviation, the computer automatically corrects the machine's settings — without any human intervention.

Because these machines are programmed to 'think' — that is, to process information and make decisions based on it — such factories have sprung up all over the world. They are most common in industries where precision, speed, and consistency are critical, such as automobile assembly, electronics manufacturing, and chemical processing. …