[olyjohn]

Lathes probably have PCs connected to them to control them, and do CNC stuff (he did say the controllers). Laser alignment machines all have PCs connected to them these days.

The cranes and lifts though... I've never heard of them being networked or controlled by a computer. Usually it's a couple buttons connected to the motors and that's it. But maybe they have some monitoring systems in them?

[p_l]

Off then top of my head, based on limited experience in industrial automation:

- maintenance monitoring data shipping to centralised locations

- computer based HMI system - there might be good old manual control but it might require unreasonable amounts of extra work per work order

- Centralised control system - instead of using panel specific to lift, you might be controlling bunch of tools from common panel

- integration with other tools, starting from things as simple as pulling up manufacturers' service manual to check for details to doing things like automatically raising the lift to position appropriate for work order involving other (possibly also automated) tools with adjustments based on the vehicle you're lifting

There could be more.