This chart demonstrates that the benefit of automation should be considered with regard to two operational tasks: direct control and supervision.
Direct control means that the operators are engaged in the control loop. They might need to focus on the unit operation, and consequently their attention might be distracted from other primary tasks. Typically, automation enables the operators to allocate attention resources to their main tasks.
Supervision means that the operators intervene only in exceptional situations, which the system developers could not examine thoroughly during the design. It is hoped that the operators can manage exceptional situations, however, operators are subject to "automation addiction" and often fail in managing
The resolution of the automation dilemma is situation dependent ...
Updated on 29 Nov 2016.