Thoughts on Linear Programming and Automation

We have all become increasingly aware of the postwar trend towards automation, which is an advanced form of mechanization. Mechanization's purpose is to relieve man of certain duties using human energy for power; automation's purpose is to relieve him of certain mental tasks and the related physical tasks necessary for their expression. Most of us sense that electronic computers, which are themselves examples of automation, will play an important role in the mechanization of control processes of the routine type.

We note again that linear programming makes it possible to mechanize part of the higher order controls. It appears likely that as this mechanization becomes more accepted, it will be linked more and more to tighter production control. In a word, automation may become super-automation.