<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.1



THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), NOR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF
ANY STATE, AND HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH
REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION FOR NONPUBLIC OFFERINGS.  ACCORDINGLY, THE SALE,
TRANSFER, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF ANY SUCH SECURITIES OR
ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND QUALIFICATION UNDER APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS, OR UNLESS SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER
DISPOSITION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION OR IS OTHERWISE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.



                            GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.


                             STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT


                                OCTOBER 11, 1996


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby certifies that SEQUOIA SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("Sequoia"), is the registered owner of 250,000 warrants (each, a
"Warrant"), each of which represents the right to purchase from the Company, at
any time or from time to time, on or after the date which is one year after the
date hereof and on or before 5:00 P.M., California time, on the date which is
four years after the date hereof (the "Exercise Period"), initially one share of
the common stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") at
the price of $2.50 per share, subject to the terms and conditions hereof.

         For the purposes of this Agreement: (i) the common stock of the
Company, together with any other equity securities which may be issued by the
Company in substitution therefor, is referred to as the "Common Stock"; (ii) the
shares of the Common Stock purchasable hereunder are referred to as the "Warrant
Shares"; (iii) the aggregate exercise price payable for all of the Warrant
Shares is referred to as the "Aggregate Exercise Price"; and (iv) the price
payable hereunder for each of the Warrant Shares is referred to as the "Per
Share Exercise Price".  The Per Share Exercise Price and the number of Warrant
Shares are subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided.  The Aggregate
Exercise Price is not subject to adjustment.



<PAGE>   2
         1.    EXERCISE OF WARRANT.
              
               1.1   GENERAL TERMS.  This Warrant may be exercised, in whole or
in part, at any time or from time to time, during the Exercise Period by the
holder of this Warrant (the "Holder") by the surrender of this Warrant (with the
subscription form at the end hereof duly executed) at the principal office of
the Company, which is currently located at 17731 Mitchell North, Irvine,
California 92614, together with proper payment of the Per Share Exercise Price
for each of the Warrant Shares as to which the Warrant is being exercised.  Any
such payment of the Per Share Exercise Price is to be: (i) in cash, (ii) by
certified or official bank or bank cashier's check (or by wire transfer) payable
to the order of the Company; (iii) by tender of shares of Common Stock (which
may be shares of Common Stock to be received by the Holder pursuant to a
concurrent exercise of Warrants), valued as hereinafter set forth, or (iv) by
any combination of the foregoing.  For purposes of the payment of the Per Share
Exercise Price, each share of Common Stock tendered by the Holder in payment of
the Per Share Exercise Price shall be deemed to have a value equal to the
average of the closing per share sales prices of a share of Common Stock on the
American Stock Exchange ("Amex") during the ten (10) trading days immediately
preceding the Exercise Date (as defined herein) (the "Market Value").  In the
event that the Holder elects to pay the Per Share Exercise Price through the
delivery of shares of Common Stock to be received by the Holder pursuant to the
concurrent exercise of Warrants (the "Cashless Exercise Shares"), the Holder
shall not be obligated to pay the Per Share Exercise Price for any such Cashless
Exercise Shares and the value of each such Cashless Exercise Share, for purposes
of the payment of the Per Share Exercise Price for the shares of Common Stock to
be delivered to and retained by the Holder, shall be an amount equal to the
Market Value minus the Per Share Exercise Price.  The Company shall not be under
any obligation to issue any such Cashless Exercise Shares and may, in lieu of
any issuance and redelivery of such Cashless Exercise Shares, retain such
Cashless Exercise Shares as authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock.  If
at the time of any valuation of shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common
Stock are not then listed on the Amex, the Market Value shall be the average of
the closing per share sales price of a share of Common Stock on the principal
United States securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act (as defined
herein) on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed during the ten (10)
trading days immediately preceding the Exercise Date, or if shares of Common
Stock are not then listed on any such stock exchange, the average of the average
closing bid and ask quotations with respect to a share of Common Stock during
such ten (10) trading days, in each case, on The Nasdaq Stock Market or any
successor system then in use, or if no such quotations are then available, the
average of the bid and asked prices with



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
respect to a share of Common Stock for such ten (10) trading days, as furnished
by a member of the New York Stock Exchange regularly making a market in the
Common Stock selected by the Holder, or if no such member firm is then making a
market in Common Stock, the fair market value of a share of Stock on the date
of issuance as determined by an appraisal of the Company (an "Appraisal").  An
"Appraisal" shall be prepared by a mutually acceptable investment banking firm
(the "Appraiser").  If the Holder and the Company cannot agree on an Appraiser
within ten (10) days following written notice from either the Holder or the
Company, each of the Holder and the Company shall appoint an appraiser within
ten (10) days following expiration of such period.  If the Holder or the
Company fails to timely appoint their respective Appraiser, the timely
appointed Appraiser shall be the sole Appraiser.  Those two (2) appraisers
shall jointly appoint a third appraiser within ten (10) days after their
appointment.  All three (3) Appraisers shall deliver their appraisal to the
Company within thirty (30) days following the appointment of the last Appraiser
and the middle appraisal shall be the value of the Common Stock.  The costs,
fees and expenses of each appointed Appraiser shall be paid by the appointing
party.  The cost, fees and expenses of the third appraiser or the mutually
agreed upon Appraiser shall be shared equally by the Holder and the Company.

               1.2   ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

                     (a)  If this Warrant is exercised in part, this Warrant
must be exercised for a number of whole shares of the Common Stock and the
Company shall execute a new Warrant of the same tenor and covering the number of
Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has not been exercised, which
Warrant shall be registered in such name or names as may be directed in writing
by the Holder, and the Company shall deliver such Warrant to the person or
entity to receive the same, subject to the limitations set forth herein.

                     (b)  Upon surrender of this Warrant in conformity with the
foregoing provisions, the Company (or the Acquiring Company in the case of a
Transaction) shall transfer to or upon the written order of the Holder,
appropriate evidence of ownership of any shares of Common Stock or other
securities or property and any money to which the Holder is entitled, registered
or otherwise placed in, or payable to the order of, such name or names as may be
directed in writing by the Holder, and shall deliver such evidence of ownership
and any money to the person or persons entitled to receive the same, together
with an amount in cash in lieu of any fraction of a share as hereinafter
provided in paragraph (e) below.



                                     -3-


<PAGE>   4
                     (c)  A Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised or
sold immediately prior to the close of business on the date of the surrender for
such exercise or sale of the Warrant (the "Exercise Date") and, for all purposes
hereof the person entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock or other
securities or property (including any  money) deliverable upon such exercise or
sale shall, as between such person and the Company (or the Acquiring Company in
the case of a Transaction), be deemed to be the holder of such shares of Common
Stock or other securities or property (including any  money) of record as of the
close of business on such date and shall be entitled to receive, and the Company
shall deliver to such person, the shares of Common Stock or other securities or
property (including any money) to which such Holder would have been entitled had
such Holder been the record holder of such Common Stock on such date.

                     (d)  Without limiting the foregoing, if, on any Exercise
Date, the transfer books for the shares of Common Stock or other securities
purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants shall be closed, the certificates
for the shares of Common Stock or other securities in respect of which such
Warrants are then exercised, shall be transferred when such transfer book shall
next be opened (whether on or after the 4th anniversary of the date hereof), and
until such date the Company (or the Acquiring Company in the case of a
Transaction) shall be under no duty to deliver any certificates for such shares
of Common Stock or other securities; provided, however, that the transfer books
of record, unless required by law, shall not be closed at any time for a period
longer than 20 days.

                     (e)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Company shall not be required to issue any fraction of a share of
Common Stock or to distribute stock certificates that evidence fractional shares
of Common Stock.  If any fraction of a share of Common Stock would, except for
the provisions of this paragraph (e), be issuable on the exercise of any Warrant
or Warrants, the Company shall purchase such fraction for an amount in cash
equal to such fraction of the then current Market Value.  The Holder, by its
acceptance of this Warrant, expressly waives its right to receive any fraction
of a share of Common Stock or a stock certificate representing a fraction of a
share of Common Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall issue
Warrants representing a fractional interest of a Warrant; provided that, the
exercise of such fractional Warrant shall be subject to the provisions of this
paragraph (e).
                     
               1.3   COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.  Before taking
any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Per Share Exercise Price
below the then par value of any of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants, the Company will take any corporate action that may,
in the



                                     -4-


<PAGE>   5
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of such Common Stock at such
adjusted Per Share Exercise Price.

                     The Company covenants that if any federal or state law or
any rule or regulation of any national securities exchange requires that the
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants be
registered with or approved by any governmental authority or listed on any
national securities exchange before such shares may be issued upon exercise, the
Company will in good faith and as expeditiously as possible endeavor to cause
such shares to be duly registered, approved or listed, as the case may be;
provided, however, that in no event shall such shares of Common Stock be issued,
and the Company is hereby authorized to suspend the exercise of all Warrants,
for the period during which such registration, approval or listing is required
but not in effect.

               1.4   RIGHTS UPON DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION.  Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Warrant, in the event that, at any time after the
date hereof and prior to the expiration hereof and the termination of the rights
of the Holder hereof as provided in this Section 1, there shall be a voluntary
or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, then the
Company shall give notice by first class mail to the Holder at such Holder's
address as it appears on the books and records of the Company at the earliest
practicable time (and, in any event, not less than 20 days before any date set
for definitive action), of the date on which such dissolution, liquidation or
winding up shall take place.  Such notice shall also specify the date as of
which the holders of the shares of record of Common stock or other securities
underlying the Warrants shall be entitled to exchange their shares for
securities, money or other property deliverable upon such dissolution,
liquidation or winding up, on which date the Holder shall receive the
securities, cash or other property which it would have been entitled to receive
had the Warrants been exercisable and exercised immediately prior to such
dissolution, liquidation or winding up (net of the then applicable Per Share
Exercise Price), and the rights to exercise the Warrants shall terminate.

         2.    RESERVATION OF WARRANT SHARES.  The Company agrees that, prior to
the expiration of this Warrant, the Company will at all times have authorized
and in reserve, and will keep available, solely for issuance or delivery upon
the exercise of this Warrant, the shares of the Common Stock and other
securities and properties as from time to time shall be receivable upon the
exercise of this Warrant.



                                      -5-


<PAGE>   6
         3.    ADJUSTMENTS.

               3.1  DISTRIBUTION WITH RESPECT TO COMMON STOCK.  If, at any time
or from time to time after the date of this Warrant, the Company shall
distribute to the holders of the Common Stock, without payment therefor: (i)
securities (including, without limitation, options, warrants, rights and
convertible or exchangeable securities), other than shares of the Common Stock;
or (ii) property, other than cash, with respect to the Common Stock, then, and
in each such case, subject to Section 3.4 hereof, the Holder, upon the exercise
of this Warrant, shall be entitled to receive the securities and properties
which the Holder would hold on the date of such exercise if, on the date of such
distribution, the Holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares
of the Common Stock subscribed for upon such exercise and, during the period
from the date of such distribution to and including the date of such exercise,
had retained such shares and the securities and properties receivable by the
Holder during such period.

               3.2  STOCK SPLITS, ETC.  If, at any time or from time to time
after the date of this Warrant, the Company shall issue to the holders of the
Common Stock shares of the Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock
split or increase the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding by
reclassification of its Common Stock, then, and in each such case, the Per Share
Exercise Price shall be adjusted, or further adjusted, to a price (to the
nearest whole cent) determined by dividing: (i) an amount equal to the number of
shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance
multiplied by the Per Share Exercise Price as it existed immediately prior to
such issuance; by (ii) the total number of shares of the Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such issuance.  Upon each such adjustment in the
Per Share Exercise Price, the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted by
dividing the Aggregate Exercise Price by the Per Share Exercise Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment.

               3.3  REVERSE SPLITS, ETC.  If, at any time or from time to time
after the date of this Warrant, the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
is decreased by way of combination of shares or reverse split or
reclassification of Common Stock, then, and in each such case, the Per Share
Exercise Price shall be adjusted, or further adjusted, to a price (to the
nearest whole cent) determined by dividing: (i) an amount equal to the number of
shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event
multiplied by the Per Share Exercise Price as it existed immediately prior to
such event; by (ii) the total number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event.  Upon each such adjustment in the Per Share
Exercise Price, the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted by



                                     -6-


<PAGE>   7
dividing the Aggregate Exercise Price by the Per Share Exercise Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment.

               3.4  CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK.  If the Company shall be a party to
any transaction (including, without limitation, a merger, consolidation, sale of
all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or recapitalization of the
Common Stock) in which the previously outstanding Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for different securities of the Company or common stock or
other securities of another corporation or interests in a non-corporate entity
or other property (including cash) or any combination of the foregoing (each
such transaction being herein called a "Transaction") then, as a condition of
the consummation of the Transaction, the Company, in the case of the
recapitalization of the Common Stock, or such other corporation or entity, in
the case of a merger, consolidation or such sale (the "Acquiring Company", and
the common stock or equivalent equity interests of the Acquiring Company, the
"Acquirer's Common Stock"), shall make lawful and adequate provision so that,
upon the exercise thereof at any time on or after the consummation of the
Transaction, the Holder shall be entitled to receive and each Warrant shall
represent the right to receive, in lieu of the Common Stock issuable upon such
conversion prior to such consummation, the securities or other property
(including cash) to which the Holder would have been entitled upon consummation
of the Transaction if the Holder had exercised such Warrant immediately prior
thereto, subject to adjustments from and after the consummation date as nearly
equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 3.  The
Company shall not effect any Transaction unless prior to the consummation
thereof each corporation or entity (other than the Company) which may be
required to deliver any securities or other property upon the exercise of the
Warrants as provided herein shall assume, by written instrument delivered to the
Holder, the obligation to deliver to the Holder such securities or other
property as in accordance with the foregoing provisions the Holder may be
entitled to receive.  The foregoing provisions of this Subsection 3.4 shall
similarly apply to successive mergers, consolidations, sales of assets,
liquidations and recapitalizations.

               3.5   NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT.  Whenever the Per Share Exercise
Price and the number of shares of Common Stock and other property, if any,
purchasable upon exercise of Warrants is adjusted, in accordance with this
Section 3, as herein provided, the Company shall mail to the Holder at its
address as it appears in the warrant register established under Section 6, a
copy of a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company setting
forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring the adjustment and the method
by which such adjustment was calculated and specifying the Per Share Exercise
Price and the number of shares



                                      -7-


<PAGE>   8
of Common Stock and other property, if any, purchasable upon exercise of
Warrants after giving effect to such adjustment.

               3.6   NOTICE OF CERTAIN CORPORATE ACTION.  If the Company shall
propose to take any of the actions specified in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 or 3.4
hereof, the Company shall give to the Holder a notice of such proposed action to
be mailed to the Holder at its address in the warrant register, which shall
specify the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such
dividend, distribution or right, or the date such issuance is to take place and
the date of participation therein by the holders of Common Stock, if any such
date is to be fixed, and shall indicate the effect of such action on the Common
Stock and the number and kind of any other shares of stock and other property,
if any, and the Per Share Exercise Price after giving effect to any adjustment
which will be required as a result of such transaction.  Such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 at least 30
days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Common Stock for
purposes of such action.

               3.7   STATEMENTS ON WARRANT.  The form of this Warrant need not
be changed because of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3, and any
Warrant issued after such adjustment may state the same Per Share Exercise Price
and the same number of shares of Common Stock as are stated in this Warrant.

               3.8   NO IMPAIRMENT.  While this Warrant is outstanding, the
Company shall not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or through a
Transaction, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the
terms to be observed or performed under this Warrant by the Company, but shall
at all times in good faith assist in carrying out all of the provisions of this
Section 3 and in taking all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to
protect (but not increase) the Holder's rights hereunder against impairment.
         
         4.    FULLY PAID STOCK; TAXES.  The Company agrees that the shares of
the Common Stock represented by each and every certificate for Warrant Shares
delivered on the exercise of this Warrant shall, at the time of such delivery,
be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable.  The Company
further covenants and agrees that it will pay, when due and payable, any and all
federal and state stamp, original issue or similar taxes which may be payable in
respect of the issue of any Warrant Share or certificate therefor; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance of any certificate
for Warrant Shares in a name other than that of the Holder upon any exercise of
this Warrant.



                                       -8-


<PAGE>   9
         5. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF SECURITIES; COMPLIANCE WITH
SECURITIES ACT.

               5.1  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY.  The transferability of
this Warrant and the Warrant Shares (as well as any other securities issued in
respect of the Warrant Shares upon any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation or similar event) shall be subject to
the conditions specified in this Section 5, which conditions are intended to
ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act")
and applicable state securities laws.  Accordingly, neither the Warrant nor the
Warrant Shares (or any other securities issued in respect of the Warrant Shares
upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or
similar event) may be transferred or assigned in whole or in part without
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws by the transferor
and the transferee.  The Holder, and any transferee of this Warrant or the
Warrant Shares, by his acceptance hereof or thereof, agree that this Warrant and
the Warrant Shares will be taken and held subject to the provisions and upon the
conditions specified in this Section 5.

               5.2  RESTRICTIVE LEGEND.  This Warrant and each certificate
representing: (i) the Warrant Shares; or (ii) any other securities issued in
respect of the Warrant Shares upon any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation or similar event, shall (unless
otherwise permitted or unless the securities evidenced by such certificate shall
have been registered under the Act) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a
legend substantially in the following form (in addition to any legend required
under applicable state securities laws), and shall be subject to the provisions
thereof:

               THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN
               REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, (THE "ACT"), OR
               QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, IN RELIANCE ON
               EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION FOR NONPUBLIC
               OFFERINGS.  ACCORDINGLY, THE SALE, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION
               OF SUCH SECURITIES OR ANY PORTION THEREOF MAY NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED
               IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
               ACT AND QUALIFICATION UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR
               UNLESS SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, PLEDGE,  HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER
               DISPOSITION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION OR IS
               OTHERWISE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.



                                    -9-


<PAGE>   10
               5.3     TRANSFER PROCEDURE.  Subject to the provisions of this
Section 5, the Holder may transfer all or any part of this Warrant by executing
and delivering to the Company the Assignment Form attached hereto.

         6.    WARRANT REGISTER.  This Warrant is transferable only upon the
books of the Company which it shall cause to be maintained for such purpose.
The Company may treat the registered holder of this Warrant as he, she or it
appears on the Company's books at any time as the Holder for all purposes,
notwithstanding the Company's receipt of any notice to the contrary.

         7.    LOSS, ETC., OF WARRANT.  Upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to
the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and
of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company, if lost, stolen or
destroyed, and upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant if mutilated, and
upon reimbursement of the Company's reasonable incidental expenses, the Company
shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant of like date, tenor and
denomination.  Each substitute Warrant executed and delivered pursuant to this
Section in lieu of any lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated Warrant shall
represent an additional contractual obligation of the Company and shall be
entitled to the benefits of this Warrant equally and proportionately with any
and all other Warrants duly executed and delivered by the Company pursuant
hereto.

         8.    WARRANT HOLDER HAS NO SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS.  This Warrant does
not confer upon the Holder any right to vote or to consent or to receive notice
as a shareholder of the Company, as such, with respect to any matters
whatsoever, or any other rights or liabilities as a shareholder, prior to the
exercise hereof.

         9.    COMMUNICATION.  Any notice required or permitted to be given
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given personally, via commercial
overnight courier service or by deposit in the United States mail, postage
prepaid, registered or certified, return receipt requested, addressed to each
party in the following manner:

           To the Company:             General Automation, Inc.
                                       17731 Mitchell North
                                       Irvine, California 92612
                                       Attention:  President


           with a copy to:             Scott E. McConnell, Esq.
                                       Higham, McConnell & Dunning
                                       28202 Cabot Road, Suite 450
                                       Laguna Niguel, CA 92677



                                   -10-


<PAGE>   11
           To the Holder:              Sequoia Systems, Inc.
                                       5959 Corporate Drive
                                       Houston, TX 77036
                                       Attention: President

           with a copy to:             Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.
                                       4200 Texas Commerce Tower
                                       600 Travis
                                       Houston, TX 77002
                                       Attention: David G. Elkins, Esq.

         Notices shall be deemed given upon the earliest to occur of: (i)
receipt; (ii) the day after delivery to a commercial overnight courier service;
or (iii) five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail.  The Company and
the Holder may change the address to which such notices are to be addressed to
them by giving the other party notice in the manner set forth herein.

         10.     HEADINGS.  The headings of this Warrant have been inserted as a
matter of convenience and shall not affect the construction hereof.

         11.     APPLICABLE LAW.  This Warrant shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without
giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Warrant has been duly executed as of the date
first above written.


                                        GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.



                                        By: /s/ JANE CHRISTIE
                                            -----------------------------
                                            Jane Christie, President




                                      -11-


<PAGE>   12
                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto ________________________________ the right to purchase __________ shares of
Common Stock evidenced by the within Warrant, and hereby appoints _____________
____________________ ____________________ to transfer the same on the books of
GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC. with full power of substitution in the premises.


Date:                  , 19
     -----------------     ----


                                        ------------------------------------
                                                     (Signature)  
                                                                             
                                        Note:  Signature must conform in all
                                        respects to the name of the Warrant
                                        Holder as specified on the face of this
                                        Warrant in every particular, without
                                        alteration or enlargement or any change
                                        whatsoever.





                                     -12-


<PAGE>   13
                                 EXERCISE FORM


TO:   GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC.


      The undersigned (_______________________________________________________)
                              Please insert Social Security or other
                                  identifying number of Holder

hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right of purchase represented by the
within Warrant for, and to purchase thereunder, __________ shares of Common
Stock provided for therein and tenders payment herewith the Per Share Exercise
Price for each such share of Common Stock.  The undersigned requests that
certificates for such shares of Common Stock be issued as follows:

Name: 
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address: 
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Deliver to: 
            -------------------------------------------------------------------

Address: 
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:                   , 19
      -----------------      -----


                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                      (Signature)

                                        Note:  Signature must conform in all
                                        respects to the name of the Warrant
                                        Holder as written upon the face of this
                                        Warrant in every particular, without
                                        alteration or enlargement or any change
                                        whatsoever.


The undersigned represents and warrants to GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC. that the
undersigned is acquiring the shares referred to above solely for its own
account and not as a nominee for any other person or entity and not with a view
toward the resale or distribution thereof except in compliance with applicable
securities laws.



                                        ----------------------------
                                                (Signature)



                                        ----------------------------
                                                   (Date)




                                   -13-