<PAGE>   1

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 1996
                                                        Registration No. _______
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                           --------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          
                           --------------------------

                            GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                        95-2488811
(State of incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


                              17731 Mitchell North
                            Irvine, California 92714
             (Address and zip code of principal executive offices)

                           ---------------------------

                 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS FOR CERTAIN DIRECTORS
                            (Full title of the plan)

                           ---------------------------

                                 John Donnelly
                              17731 Mitchell North
                            Irvine, California 92714
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (714) 250-4800
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                            Scott E. McConnell, Esq.
                          Higham, McConnell & Dunning
                          28202 Cabot Road, Suite 450
                     Laguna Niguel, California  92677-1250


                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Title of                       Proposed        Proposed
Securities        Amount        Maximum          Maximum          Amount of
  To Be           To Be      Offering Price     Aggregate        Registration   
Registered      Registered    Per Share(1)   Offering Price(1)       Fee       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>             <C>               <C>           <C>                <C>
Common Stock,
$.10 par value  1,455,000 shs.    $.86          $1,251,300         $431.48
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1)         Proposed maximum offering price is the price at which the stock
            options may be exercised.
<PAGE>   2
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.     Incorporation of Documents by Reference
            ---------------------------------------

            The following documents are incorporated into this Registration
Statement by reference:

            (a)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year
                    ended September 30, 1995, as amended by the amendments
                    thereto filed May 2, 1996 and May 22, 1996, respectively.

            (b)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                    December 31, 1995, as amended by the amendment thereto
                    filed May 2, 1996.

            (c)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                    March 31, 1996.

            (d)     The Registrant's report on Form 8-K filed on May 22, 1996.

            (e)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                    June 30, 1996.

            (f)     The description of the Registrant's common stock set forth 
                    in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed pursuant to
                    Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or
                    reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

            In addition, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by
the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange
Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Agreements which are
the subject of this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters
all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement and shall be deemed to be a part
hereof from the date of the filing of each such report or document except as to
any portion of any future Annual or Quarterly Report to Shareholders which is
not deemed filed under such provisions.

Item 4.     Description of Securities
            -------------------------

            Not applicable

Item 5.     Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
            --------------------------------------

            Not applicable

Item 6.     Indemnification of Directors and Officers
            -----------------------------------------

            Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law makes provision
for the indemnification of officers and directors in terms sufficiently broad
to indemnify officers and directors under certain circumstances from
liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the
Securities Act of 1933.  Indemnification Agreements entered into by the
Registrant and its officers and directors provide that the Registrant shall
indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law.





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
            In addition, as permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides
that a director of the Registrant shall not be liable to the Registrant or its
shareholders for monetary damages for breach of the director's fiduciary duty
of care.  However, as provided by Delaware law, such limitation of liability
will not act to limit liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the Registrant or its shareholders, (ii) for any acts or omissions
not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) arising under the provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law relating to unlawful distributions, or (iv) for any transaction
from which the director derived an improper benefit.

Item 7.     Exemption From Registration Claimed
            -----------------------------------

            Not applicable

Item 8.     Exhibits(1)
            -----------

            5       Opinion of Higham, McConnell & Dunning.

            23.1    Consent of Higham, McConnell & Dunning (included in the
                    opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).

            23.2    Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.

Item 9.     Undertakings
            ------------

       (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being  made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                 (i)       to include any prospectus required by Section
              10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)      to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
              arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
              (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
              individually or in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change
              in the information set forth in the Registration Statement;

                 (iii)  to include any material information with respect to the
              plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
              Statement or any material change to such information in the
              Registration Statement;

              Provided, however, that Paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if information required to be included in a post- effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

         (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,





____________________

    (1)  Pursuant to Instruction 1 to paragraph (b)(4) of Item 601 of Regulation
S-K, copies of the Stock Option Agreements to which this Registration Statement
relates have not been filed herewith.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bonafide offering thereof.

              (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

       (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bonafide offering thereof.

       (h)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.





                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Irvine, State of California, on the 1st day of
August, 1996.

                                           GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.


                                           By: /s/ Jane Christie          
                                               ---------------------------
                                               Jane Christie, President
                                               and Chief Executive Officer


       We, the undersigned directors and officers of General Automation, Inc.,
do hereby constitute and appoint Jane Christie and John Donnelly, or either of
them, our true and lawful attorneys and agents, to do any and all acts and
things in our name and behalf in our capacities as directors and officers and
to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities
indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or either of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration
Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority
to sign for us or any of us in our names and in the capacities indicated below,
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) hereto; and we do
hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of
them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Signature                                       Title                              Date
         ---------                                       -----                              ----
 <S>                                              <C>                                   <C>
 /s/ Lawrence Michels                             Chairman of the Board                 August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                              and Director                                               
 Lawrence Michels                                      

 /s/ Robert D. Bagby                                  Vice Chairman                     August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                              and Director                                               
 Robert D. Bagby                                       


 /s/ John R. Donnelly                                Chief Financial                    August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                              Officer and
 John R. Donnelly                                  Principal Accounting
                                                         Officer
                                                   

 /s/ Leonard Mackenzie                                   Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Leonard Mackenzie

 /s/ Philip T. Noden                                     Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Philip T. Noden


 /s/ Paul Morigi                                         Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Paul Morigi

 /s/ Robert M. McClure                                   Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Robert M. McClure
</TABLE>





                                      S-1
<PAGE>   6
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.                       Description
- -----------                       -----------
   <S>         <C>
   5           Opinion of Higham, McConnell & Dunning.

   23.1        Consent of Higham, McConnell & Dunning (included in the 
               opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).

   23.2        Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 FOR GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15882}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GENERAL AUTOMATION INC", "cik": "0000040443", "assigned-sic": "7373", "irs-number": "952488811", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-09483", "film-number": "96603197"}, "business-address": {"street1": "17731 MITCHELL NORTH", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "92714", "phone": "7147784800"}}
1

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 1996
                                                        Registration No. _______
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                           --------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          
                           --------------------------

                            GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                        95-2488811
(State of incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                              17731 Mitchell North
                            Irvine, California 92714
             (Address and zip code of principal executive offices)

                           ---------------------------

                 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS FOR CERTAIN DIRECTORS
                            (Full title of the plan)

                           ---------------------------

                                 John Donnelly
                              17731 Mitchell North
                            Irvine, California 92714
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (714) 250-4800
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                            Scott E. McConnell, Esq.
                          Higham, McConnell & Dunning
                          28202 Cabot Road, Suite 450
                     Laguna Niguel, California  92677-1250

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Title of                       Proposed        Proposed
Securities        Amount        Maximum          Maximum          Amount of
  To Be           To Be      Offering Price     Aggregate        Registration   
Registered      Registered    Per Share(1)   Offering Price(1)       Fee       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
$.10 par value  1,455,000 shs.    $.86          $1,251,300         $431.48
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)         Proposed maximum offering price is the price at which the stock
            options may be exercised.
2
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.     Incorporation of Documents by Reference
            ---------------------------------------

            The following documents are incorporated into this Registration
Statement by reference:

            (a)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year
                    ended September 30, 1995, as amended by the amendments
                    thereto filed May 2, 1996 and May 22, 1996, respectively.

            (b)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                    December 31, 1995, as amended by the amendment thereto
                    filed May 2, 1996.

            (c)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                    March 31, 1996.

            (d)     The Registrant's report on Form 8-K filed on May 22, 1996.

            (e)     The Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                    June 30, 1996.

            (f)     The description of the Registrant's common stock set forth 
                    in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed pursuant to
                    Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or
                    reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

            In addition, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by
the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange
Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Agreements which are
the subject of this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters
all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement and shall be deemed to be a part
hereof from the date of the filing of each such report or document except as to
any portion of any future Annual or Quarterly Report to Shareholders which is
not deemed filed under such provisions.

Item 4.     Description of Securities
            -------------------------

            Not applicable

Item 5.     Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
            --------------------------------------

            Not applicable

Item 6.     Indemnification of Directors and Officers
            -----------------------------------------

            Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law makes provision
for the indemnification of officers and directors in terms sufficiently broad
to indemnify officers and directors under certain circumstances from
liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the
Securities Act of 1933.  Indemnification Agreements entered into by the
Registrant and its officers and directors provide that the Registrant shall
indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

                                       2
3
            In addition, as permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides
that a director of the Registrant shall not be liable to the Registrant or its
shareholders for monetary damages for breach of the director's fiduciary duty
of care.  However, as provided by Delaware law, such limitation of liability
will not act to limit liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the Registrant or its shareholders, (ii) for any acts or omissions
not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) arising under the provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law relating to unlawful distributions, or (iv) for any transaction
from which the director derived an improper benefit.

Item 7.     Exemption From Registration Claimed
            -----------------------------------

            Not applicable

Item 8.     Exhibits(1)
            -----------

            5       Opinion of Higham, McConnell & Dunning.

            23.1    Consent of Higham, McConnell & Dunning (included in the
                    opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).

            23.2    Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.

Item 9.     Undertakings
            ------------

       (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being  made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                 (i)       to include any prospectus required by Section
              10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)      to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
              arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
              (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
              individually or in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change
              in the information set forth in the Registration Statement;

                 (iii)  to include any material information with respect to the
              plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
              Statement or any material change to such information in the
              Registration Statement;

              Provided, however, that Paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if information required to be included in a post- effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

         (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,

____________________

    (1)  Pursuant to Instruction 1 to paragraph (b)(4) of Item 601 of Regulation
S-K, copies of the Stock Option Agreements to which this Registration Statement
relates have not been filed herewith.

                                       3
4
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bonafide offering thereof.

              (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

       (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bonafide offering thereof.

       (h)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       4
5
                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Irvine, State of California, on the 1st day of
August, 1996.

                                           GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.

                                           By: /s/ Jane Christie          
                                               ---------------------------
                                               Jane Christie, President
                                               and Chief Executive Officer

       We, the undersigned directors and officers of General Automation, Inc.,
do hereby constitute and appoint Jane Christie and John Donnelly, or either of
them, our true and lawful attorneys and agents, to do any and all acts and
things in our name and behalf in our capacities as directors and officers and
to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities
indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or either of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration
Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority
to sign for us or any of us in our names and in the capacities indicated below,
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) hereto; and we do
hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of
them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                                       Title                              Date
         ---------                                       -----                              ----
/s/ Lawrence Michels                             Chairman of the Board                 August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                              and Director                                               
 Lawrence Michels                                      

 /s/ Robert D. Bagby                                  Vice Chairman                     August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                              and Director                                               
 Robert D. Bagby                                       

 /s/ John R. Donnelly                                Chief Financial                    August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                              Officer and
 John R. Donnelly                                  Principal Accounting
                                                         Officer
                                                   

 /s/ Leonard Mackenzie                                   Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Leonard Mackenzie

 /s/ Philip T. Noden                                     Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Philip T. Noden

 /s/ Paul Morigi                                         Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Paul Morigi

 /s/ Robert M. McClure                                   Director                       August 1, 1996
 ------------------------                                                                             
 Robert M. McClure
S-1
6
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.                       Description
- -----------                       -----------
5           Opinion of Higham, McConnell & Dunning.

   23.1        Consent of Higham, McConnell & Dunning (included in the 
               opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).

   23.2        Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.