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AQA GCSE - Design and Technology > 1.1 - New and Emerging Technologies > Flashcards

1.1 - New and Emerging Technologies Flashcards

1
Q

How does automation help designers in manufacturing?

A
  • Automation enables repetitive tasks to be performed by mechanised assembly lines rather than by a human.
  • This helps to meet increased demand for products.
  • Software automation performs computer-based tasks.
  • Industrial automation performs physical tasks.
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2
Q

How do robots help designers in manufacturing?

A
  • Robots can be controlled to automatically perform a series of complex movements.
  • They can be used to substitute humans in environments that are hazardous (e.g exposed to high temperatures or harmful vapours.
  • They are commonly used on assembly lines in the manufacture of vehicles, in packing plants, laboratories and in aerospace.
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3
Q

What are the advantages of automation and the use of robotics?

A

• Increased efficiency and speed of production
• Accurate and consistent output
• Reduced labour costs and can work 24/7
• Ability to work in a variety of environments

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4
Q

What are the disadvantages of automation and the use of robotics?

A

• Replaces workforce leading to some job losses
• No human input/decision making
• High-skilled workforce required to maintain robots
• Expensive to set up

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5
Q

What are the different stages of manufacture?

A
  • Delivery depot: Raw materials/ components are recieved
  • Production line: Raw matenals processed, components, assembled to make product
  • Packaging and distribution: Product wrapped and boxed then shipped to customers

Companies carefully consider the layout of their buildings to make sure each stage and the transition to the next one is as efficient as possible.

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6
Q

Exam Style Question:
Describe two factors that make the production of circuit boards suitable for automated assembly line manufacture.
[4]

A
  • Identical circuit boards and products are passed through the production line
  • making it easy to program robots to perform repetitive operations.
  • Precision is required and must be maintained
  • robots are able to work consistently and indefnitely
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7
Q

What is enterprise?

A
  • Enterprise is the ability to identify a business opportunity, develop it and make it comercially successful.
  • A start-up company is usually one that has come up with an idea that has the potential to grow into a profit-making business.
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8
Q

What is a patent?

A
  • This is a legal process of proving the creator is the first person to have registered the idea or invention.
  • By applying for a patent, original ideas, discoveries and inventions remain the intellectual property of the person who invented them.
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9
Q

What is “Crowd funding”, in relation to enterprise?

A
  • Crowd funding is the use of small amounts of capital from many individuals to finance a new business venture.
  • The use of websites and social media enables a broad range of investors from individuals to venture capitalists to invest in an idea, usually in return for shares should the venture succeed.
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10
Q

What is an advantage of crowd funding?

A
  • It provides a new platform for businesses to reach a large audience of funders
  • It is an alternative to the traditional route of a bank loan.
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11
Q

What are the disadvantages of crowd funding?

A
  • If the venture doesn’t reach a funding target, any finance pledged is usually returned to investors.
  • If the project fails it can damage the reputation of the company.
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12
Q

What is “Virtual marketing” and “Virtual retail”, in relation to enterprise?

A
  • Virtual marketing and retail include the use of websites, social media, email and digital marketing to reach a wider audience and potential client base in order to promote a product, service or idea.
  • Virtual marketing relies on hits, clicks or likes. The effect of this can be measured more easily than with print advertising.
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13
Q

What is a cooperative?

A
  • A cooperative is an enterprise that is commonly owned and run by its members who may comprise its workforce or its customers.
  • Cooperatives are formed to enable a group of people with the same business interests to have greater protection and a stronger democratic voice.
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14
Q

What is the Fairtrade Foundation?

A
  • The Fairtrade Foundation requires companies pay a fair and sustainable price for their produce, enabling farmers to improve their quality of life.
  • The Fairtrade Foundation focus on products exported from developing countries to developed countries such as fruit, coffee, chocolate, wine and cotton.
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15
Q

What are the advantages of “Virtual marketing”?

A
  • Virtual marketing relies on hits, clicks or likes. The effect of this can be measured more easily than with print advertising.
  • Enables mass-marketing for low costs.
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16
Q

What is sustainability?

A
  • Sustainability looks to protect and maintain the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
  • Sustainable systems can continue indefinitely.
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17
Q

What are finite resources?

A
  • Finite resources are in limited supply and are being used more quickly than can be replaced.
  • Use of finite resources should be avoided where possible or used only in small amounts for essential reasons where an alternative cannot be used.
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18
Q

What are some examples of finite resources

A
  • Fossil fuels, coal, gas, oil.
  • Some minerals and metal ores.
  • Radioactive materials, like Uranium.
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19
Q

What are non-finite resources?

A
  • Non-finite resources are in abundant supply and are unlikely ever to be exhausted.
  • They can be grown or replaced at the rate that they are being used.
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20
Q

What are some examples of non-finite resources?

A

Examples include solar and wind energy, timbers and cotton.

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21
Q

What is a Life Cycle Assessment?

A

Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a way for companies to assess the environmental impact of a product during the different stages of a product’s life.

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22
Q

What are the different stages of a product’s life cycle.

A
  1. Extraction and processing
  2. Manufacturing and production
  3. Distribution
  4. Use
  5. End of life/ disposal
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23
Q

How can careful planning of waste disposal, in large manufacturing plants, be used to create positive effects?

A
  • Waste materials can be reused internally for alternative parts and products.
  • Some of the cost of materials is recouped through the sale of recyclable waste.
  • The energy used to heat and power a business may also be generated from waste material such as biomass.
24
Q

Exam Style Question:
Plastic straws have been phased out from use in many national restaurant chains.
Explain the benefits of replacing these with paper straws.
[2]

A
  • Biodegradable / paper straws decompose more quickly, reducing waste in landfill.
  • They are manufactured with fewer finite resources.
25
Q

How does burning fossil fuels cause global warming?

A
  • The burning of fossil fuels contributes to increased levels of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants that are collecting in the atmosphere.
  • This contributes to global warming due to the greenhouse effect.
  • This increases the average global temperature and causes extreme weather events.
26
Q

How do businesses reduce their pollution during manufacture?

A

By conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a company will find out how much pollution is being created and plan a reduction strategy.

27
Q

What is continuous improvement and how is it used by manufacturers?

A
  • Many manufacturers make small but continuous improvements to their processes and workflow.
  • They adopt a strategy within the workplace to make regular, incremental improvements to bigger processes.
  • Companies that focus on continual improvement become more efficient and more effective.
28
Q

Why are businesses always trying to improve efficiency?

A

Methods to improve efficiency and productivity are adopted by businesses to:

  • Reduce costs.
  • Reduce energy usage.
  • Reduce impact on the environment.
29
Q

How can companies increase efficiency?

A
  • Companies will invest in staff training, and improved working practises for the workforce.
  • adopting new technologies and automation
  • reduction of wastage
30
Q

Designers and manufacturers need to understand the ____________ when launching a new product successfully.

A

marketplace

31
Q

What is meant by the term “Technology push”?

A
  • When new technology becomes available, designers will utilise it to make a product before the market is aware of it.
  • Research and development teams will introduce new technology, manufacturing processes and materials to push through the design of new products or improve existing ones.
  • This will often make them smaller, cheaper or more efficient.
32
Q

What is meant by the term “Market pull”?

A
  • When the market needs a product, designers will make something to meet that demand.
  • This will be in response to market forces and customer needs.
  • Examples include recyclable carrier bags, low energy lamps and gluten free foods.
33
Q

What is the difference between “technology push” and “market pull”?

A
  • The “market pull” approach attempts to provide products the market demands.
  • The “technology push” approach attempts to interest the market in new products based on new solutions.
34
Q

How does adopting new technologies, in the workplace, result in changing job roles?

A
  • Technology in the workplace is continually changing.
  • Automation commonly leads to a reduction of manual labour or a change in job roles and working conditions.
  • The workforce can be retained for new positions using new technologies, often giving people new and higher value skills
35
Q

What is an example of job roles changing as a result of new technologies?

A

A mechanised assembly line result in machines replacing the original workforce however a new, workforce is created to maintain and repair the machines if they break.

36
Q

It is important for designers to be aware of the society around them and to try to understand the different ________ that exist within it.

A

cultures

37
Q

Exam style question:
Discuss how clothing designs, fabric colour and materials may sell well in one country but not in another.
[3]

A
  • Faiths and beliefs sometimes restrict the styles of clothing that some people wear.
  • A popular style of top or shorts exposing the shoulders or knees is considered too revealing in some areas of the world.
  • Green is considered a positive, environmentally friendly colour in the West, and is the traditional colour of Islam. In Indonesia, green has traditionally been forbidden.
  • White symbolises purity and cleanliness in Western cultures. However, in China and Korea, white represents death and bad luck.
  • Silks may sell very well in Asian cultures, as part of national dress styles, but less so in the West.
38
Q

Why is inclusive design important?

A
  • Inclusive design is important for any new product to ensure the environment or design can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of gender, disability or age.
  • All users should be able to use the design safely, easily and with dignity,
39
Q

Exam Style Question:
Describe how car park design can incorporate features to improve accessibility for all users including the disabled and the elderly.
[3]

A
  • Clear and visible signage to identify entrances, exits, walkways.
  • The height of payment machines, lift buttons, exit panels are considered so that wheelchair users can reach easily.
  • Lifts as well as stairs to assist those who find stairs difficult.
  • Handrails and balustrades on stairwells.
  • Automatic opening doors with sensors.
  • Wide parking bays for disabled vehicular access and those with push chairs.
  • Well lit walkways.
  • Induction loop systems and assistive listening in payment, information and lIft spaces.”
40
Q

What are Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FSM)?

A
  • A FMS is a method of production designed to easily adapt to changes in the quantity or type of product being manufactured.
  • Systems can be configured to manage any change in levels of production and make parts that are appropriate.
  • FMS can be used to manage their stock inventory and production planning system.
  • By having an item tracking system, every part in the warehouse can be easily traced and monitored.
41
Q

What is Lean Manufacturing?

A
  • Lean manufacturing focuses on minimising waste and improving efficiency, which in turn is cost saving and reduces the use of resources.
  • The elimination of waste is core to a lean practise.
42
Q

How can manufacturers put lean manufacturing into practice?

A

This is done by adapting designs and making changes to the production process. For example:

  • To reduce waste, a packaging net could be redesigned to include a tessellating pattern
  • To improve efficiency, changeover times between production runs could be reduced.
43
Q

What is Just-in-Time manufacturing?

A
  • Manufacturers use the JIT production method to respond to customer demand.
  • The correct amounts of materials are ordered in to cover the orders, and these arrive just as they are needed by production.
44
Q

What are the advantages of Just-in-Time production?

A
  • Saves money and space on storage.
  • No money is wasted producing stock that will remain unsold.
  • More factory space can be utilised for other activities.
  • Materials and components are ordered as needed, keeping cash flow in control.
45
Q

What are the disadvantages of Just-in-Time production?

A
  • The supply chain must be reliable and fast.
  • Sales are affected by any delay in deliveries or product failures.
  • Costs are higher, ordering in small quantities prevents bulk volume discounts.
46
Q

What is Computer Aided Design (CAD)?

A
  • CAD enables designers, engineers and architects to produce precise technical drawings using a computer.
  • It can be used to create 2D drawings or 3D models.
47
Q

What are the advantages of CAD?

A
  • Accurate designs, which is useful for visualisation.
  • Changes and corrections can be easily made.
  • Software can automate some design tasks.
  • Designs can be shared and viewed simultaneously.
  • Designs can be rendered to simulate the final finish.
  • 3D models can be produced from the designs.
48
Q

What are the disadvantages of CAD?

A
  • Cost of software, hi-spec computer and printer.
  • Work maybe lost, data corrupted or hacked
  • Time taken to learn complex software.
49
Q

What is Computer Aided Manufacture (CAD)?

A
  • CAM uses computer software to control machine tools and machinery in the manufacturing process.
  • It helps streamline production by translating CAD data into an instruction for a piece of machinery or tooling such as a laser cutter or CNC mill.
  • It increases productivity, is highly accurate and consistent, resulting in reduced waste
50
Q

What are the advantages of CAM?

A
  • Fast and accurate production, meaning less material is wasted.
  • Machines can run constantly on repetitive tasks.
51
Q

What are the disadvantages of CAM?

A
  • Expensive to set up.
  • Needs a skilled workforce of engineers to maintain.
52
Q

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations require UK businesses to…

A
  • Minimise waste from their electrical equipment and promote reuse.
  • Ensure waste products are recycled correctly and meet material recovery targets.
  • Design products by reducing material use and enhancing reusability and recyclability.
53
Q

What is planned or built-in obsolescence?

A
  • The practice of designing products that will have a limited life and that will become obsolete and require to be replaced.
  • In the technology sector this may mean that the software becomes incompatible, there is insufficient processor power or components wear out.
54
Q

Why is planned obsolescence a generally unethical practice?

A
  • Consumers are forced to waste money on replacements.
  • Bad for the environment as it creates more waste.
55
Q

How can designers reduce the effect of their products on the environment?

A
  • Designers should encompass end-of-life systems, takeback programmes, recovery and recycling as part of their planning.
  • Cutting down the use of finite resources for use in production and for energy supply.
56
Q

What does it mean for a product to be “designed for maintainance”?

A
  • When a product is designed for maintenance, it enables parts that have worn out or broken to be replaced.
  • Repairing is positive for the environment as it saves the whole product from being thrown away, creates employment for engineers and a spare parts supply chain.
57
Q

What does the term “design for disasembly” mean?

A
  • Design for disassembly is a concept that when a product has reached the end of its life it can be taken apart and parts reused or recycled.
  • For instance, a stool could be unscrewed to allow the plastic seat and steel legs to be recycled.

AQA GCSE - Design and Technology (25 decks)

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