Stepper counters play a crucial role in industrial automation by accurately tracking the number of cycles or movements in machinery and production lines. They are utilized in manufacturing processes to monitor the production output, ensure precise positioning of components, and track inventory levels. In conveyor systems, stepper counters help in controlling the movement of items, ensuring efficient and reliable operations.

A stepper counter, also known as a step counter or a digital counter, is a device that counts, measures, or records the number of occurrences of certain discrete events. It operates by registering an incremental increase upon receipt of each digital input pulse, hence the name 'step' counter.