Automation kept quiet in 1954

Automation was an "outstanding trend" in automotive plants, as editors described in the November 8, 1954, issue. However, many automakers were still hesitant about actually defining the term.

According to the editors, one Big Three manufacturing boss described automation thusly: "Automation is any operation that removes a man from production. But don't pin my name on that. We have a labor problem to think of."