OBJECTIVE： To provide reference for the construction and development of hospital modernization pharmacy in China， and to promote the application of pharmacy automation system in hospital. METHODS： By introducing the change of pharmacy management due to the debugging and application of outpatient pharmacy automation system （rapid dispensing machine， intelligent access machine） in our hospital， the problems of automation system and countermeasures were put forward， and the effects of automation system in our hospital were evaluated. RESULTS： With the application of automation system， the pharmacy layout was adjusted， the drugs in the machine was debugged and optimized， the procedure on adding drugs and stocktaking drugs were improved， the reasonable scheduling work in outpatient pharmacy was worked， the complete management plan on validity of drugs was established； referring to the problems of automation system， the procedures of adding drugs by rapid dispensing machine and intelligent access machine were formulated as well as related working guide. The adding and delivering drug failure emergency handling procedure of rapid dispensing machine， intelligent access machine failure emergency handling procedure were formulated according to the possible fault of automation system. Related index evaluation showed that automation system was applied and continuously improved， which reduced labor intensity （step count of pharmacists adding drug decreased from 5 634.6 steps/day to 4 087.8 steps/day）； the work efficiency was improved greatly （the number of prescriptions increased from 226.55 sheets/h to 311.55 sheets/h during rush hours）； the work error was reduced （the number of dispensing internal error decreased from 54.75 items/week to 21.50 items/week）. CONCLUSIONS： After appling the automation system in outpatient pharmacy， the drug dispensing and staff management has been standardized， and it become the hospital pharmacy development inevitable trend. But it is suggested to adjust and optimize the automation system continuously so as to exert its maximal efficacy.