AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEMS AS A DRIVER OF RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES

Abstract

Abstract. Industrial enterprises operate under growing pressure to do more with fewer inputs, and the way production is governed has become as decisive for competitiveness as the technology of production itself. This paper examines how automated control systems reshape the consumption of energy, materials, labour and time, and why such systems should be understood primarily as an instrument of resource efficiency rather than merely as a means of replacing manual work. The discussion sets out the architecture and functional logic of these systems, links each layer of control to a specific channel of resource saving, and proposes a compact framework for evaluating the economic return of automation investments. Particular attention is paid to the conditions of an emerging-economy context such as Uzbekistan, where the potential gains are large but financial, technical and organizational constraints slow adoption. The paper argues that the value of automation is realized only when technological change is accompanied by changes in skills, planning and management culture, and it offers a set of practical implications for enterprises and policymakers.