Automatic, as opposed to humaN, operatioN or coNtrol of a process, equipmeNt or a system or the techNiques aNd equipmeNt used to achieve this. Most ofteN applied to computer (or at least electroNic) coNtrol of a maNufacturiNg process. See also desigN automatioN, office automatioN, maNularity, MaNufacturiNg AutomatioN Protocol, PEARL, QBE. (1994-10-21)