Commentary: Why automation lags

Why automation lags The need for the creation of the Journal of Automatic Chemistry as Peter Stockwell has implied in his commentary for the first issue has arisen from the interdisciplinary nature of the field of automation. Thus, in contrast to other new journals which are dedicated to narrower and more speialised topics we are encompassing a variety of fields each of which knows their own dedicated literature. In lectures and papers it has been pointed out again and again that automation is a systems problem. The necessity for a combination of a variety of disciplines represents a conceptual barrier for automation to spread to new areas. It is particularly true for analytical chemistry where much of the work is related to the person of the analytical chemist and his touch and intuition for the situation. This fact certainly has contributed to a certain lag in automation of especially industrial analytical chemistry. It is interesting to note that a similar situation may be observed in office automation where increases in efficiency through automation were successfully prevented for a long period of time with the argument that "my work cannot be automated because of its personal nature". But accepting the fact that automation is interdisciplinary is not enough. Care has to be taken that all aspects are included in any project of automation. This concerns also organizational and psychological aspects that arise with automation. It is well known that the quantitative benefits of automation ensue from an increase in productivity. In many cases it is implied that a change in the organizational structure is a necessity and that required manpower is reduced. Although it is a widely accepted fact that automation is beneficial and has furthered our standard of living Trade Unions tend not to agree, they clearly see that in many cases their jobs are endangered. It is not easy to point out to someone who is afraid of being made redundant that automation is a systems problem and that it will be good for the economy, our standard of living etc. Careful planning is required in all cases for small and large projects in which way automation is to be introduced to the personnel of an organization and in which way psychological and emotional reactions should be anticipated. Failure to do so can become very costly and might be a major reason for automation to lag. There are examples abound in other disciplines where Unions have successfully resisted, and in many cases rightly so. Nevertheless, the Unions should be aware that they cannot over any extended period of time hinder progress in the form of automation. During the industrial revolution of the last century obstruction to mechanization was a wide spread thing in several countries. Today one hardly thinks of it. The question today is 0nly whether automation will happen together or in conflict. It is desirable that papers published in the Journal of Automatic Chemistry will devote some space to this aspect. Whether automation will lag or not is ultimately decided whether or not automation can be made suitably acceptable to all concerned. And if this journal can help this purpose it will achieve a noble goal. R. W. Arndt