Adobe Stock Here are details about how to develop an automation system that can deliver on the promise of advanced manufacturing. The pressures on manufacturing performance have increased as companies revamped operations during the pandemic. They needed to increase production while using fewer workers. Manufacturers were also under the gun to implement Industry 4.0 and IoT technology to improve operations. I/O automation systems have become critical for improving performance. An I/O automation system includes a point-to-point connection that results in a communications connection between two separate endpoints or nodes. It is bi-directional, meaning it works two ways and works over a short distance. It is primarily used to communicate with sensors and actuators in plant or factory automation processes.