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Why did Ford Motor Company use the term automation in the 1940s?

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Jacquard loom engraving, 1874 — automation At the top of the machine is a stack of punched cards that would be fed into the loom to control the weaving pattern. This method of automatically issuing machine instructions was employed by computers well into the 20th century.

The term "automation" was coined at the Ford Motor Company in the late 1940s to describe the automatic handling of parts during metalworking processes.12

In 1947, Ford executive Delmar S. Harder, then vice president of manufacturing, sought a name for a new department tasked with improving the efficient handling of materials. During a staff meeting, Harder suggested the "Automated Handling Department" and subsequently proposed "the Automation Department" as a better alternative.1

The word is believed to be a blend of the terms "automatic" and "operation". While the concept evolved to encompass broader technological trends—including powered machinery, material handling equipment, and advanced control systems—its initial application at Ford was specifically focused on streamlining the movement and processing of workpieces within the factory. By the diligent efforts of Ford's publicity team, Harder eventually became widely known as "the father of automation".12