Hi Kevin, there are many areas in automation.

If you would like to read about automation in manufacturing and production then I recommend the following textbook

Automation, Production Systems, and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

M.P Groover

This book was available on the net as far as I know.

By the way the word Automation was first coined by Ford motor company to use it in referring to the automatic handling of materials. That was in the year 1945. 70 years back. 

Here are some books, which might be of interest:

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783540788300

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783540239574

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783662435045

Kind regards,

Mario

Hi Kevin, I totally agree with Mr.AlKindi that there are many areas in automation.

I will recommend to you this book that was helpful for me:

thanks to all

Hi

you may look at the following links:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hassan_Bayani/publications

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automation has a good beginning outline and links to many related topics.

u will get it my rg profile