Automation is the partial or full performance by a machine system (mechanical or electronic, or both) of a function previously performed by a human, or which conceivably could be performed by a human. Automation has been developed for decades, though most existing technology is now seen simply as machine operation. Automation is necessary to increase capacity and to improve or maintain safety. Some of the justifications for automation include reliability, speed and (processing) power. However, no automated function is totally reliable, and even if functions are ‘reliable’ they may behave in unexpected ways due to unforeseen interactions between system components. So, assuming that an automated function will fail sooner or later and that any backup system will, by the same token, also display this tendency, it becomes obvious that humans are required in some role as part of the socio-technical system. This role normally includes a monitoring and backup role. 

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