Technology Flashcards
Arguments for the use or robots
•can carry out repetitive tasks with great accuracy time after time- can lead to boredom, lack of motivation and human error
•do dirty, dangerous jobs
•don’t get tired, sick, join trade unions, take days off
•long-term costs are reduced
•increased output with greater speed and less errors; better quality
Arguments against robots
•initial purchase costs can be very high and breakdowns can be expensive to resolve
•maintenance can be costly
•inflexible where customer options have to be catered for
•reprogramming of robots can be expensive
•cannot problem solve
•costly to keep up with technological achievements
Computer Aided Design
An interactive computer system that is capable of generating, storing and using computer graphics- it assists design engineers in solving design problems
Advantages of CAD
•accurate designs can be constructed on computer, which can be viewed in 3D and rotated
•easily and cheaply altered for a client- reduces lead time
•designs can be accurately measured and tested on screen to detect faults prior to manufacturing
•increased accuracy and ability to alter designs can reduce cost of design process
•designs can be more easily stored and quickly retrieved
•money can be saved- eliminating the production and testing of prototypes
•testing programmes can be included
Disadvantages of CAD
•cost of setting up- buying the machinery and training of employees
•possible redundancy payments to unskilled workers
•reputation of business if made redundant
Computer Aided Manufacturing
The use of computers in production- it occurs in all sorts of industries
Advantages of CAM
•allows for standardised quality- accuracy
•reliability- less waste in manufacture
•lower labour production costs- less supervision
•greater customer satisfaction- fewer returns
•easy to adjust- faster and cheaper
Disadvantages of CAM
•cost of setting up- buying machinery and training employees
•possible redundancy payments to unskilled workers
•reputation of business if made redundant
Benefite of computer modelling
•can be used to model anything
•can try a huge range of ‘what if’ scenarios
•businesses can perfect their products and continually improve efficiency of production
Benefits of marketing from IT
•the Internet allows a much wider geographical market to be targeted, cheaper advertising and improved customer convenience
•information gathered from browsing and purchasing habits allows sophisticated targeted marketing to take place
•social networking and mobile phones (digital revolution)
Benefits of communications technology
•allows flexibility in the location of services and customer relations centres
•costs are reduced and service standards improved
Advantages of technology
•improved quality- robots and CAM processes can consistently produce top-quality products and accurately perform repetitive tasks
•faster innovation- easier and cheaper to model and test with CAD and computer modelling
•more effective marketing and sales
•less dependency on labour- reduces costs
•increases productivity
•reduced waste and costs
•improved communications
Disadvantages of technology
•the cost of buying the technology and training employees to use it is high
•technology doesn’t always work- production time could be lost
•number of different labour costs- redundancy, retraining
Impact on technological change on businesses
•cost involved to frequently change and maintain machinery
•increased productivity
•time being saved and fewer materials used
•improving working environment
•reduction in staffing needs
•need for re-training
•reduced employment levels
•easier to order
•more rapid delivery of goods
Impact of technological change on customers
•given customers wider choice of products
•improved speed of communications
•existing products become obsolete more quickly
