October half term test (weeks 2-4) Flashcards
What are “new and emerging technologies?”
any new technological developement in recent decades (around 20-30 years ago) Eg. mobile phones, wifi, AI etc.
What are consumers
Customers
companies exist to make money from consumers and they need to conisder t
What does automation do
Does repetitive tasks in assembly lines rather than a human
more precise, no human errors, does repetitive tasks fast
What can robots do instead of humans?
they can be used to substitute humans in hazardous environments (eg. high temperature, toxic fumes, dangerous work)
robots are one part of automation
Advantages of robots
just pick two or three to remember :)
- increased efficiency and speed of production
- accurate and consistent output (less waste)
- reduced labour costs and can work 24/7
- ability to work in a variety of environments + doing dangerous work
Disadvantages of robots
just pick two or three to remember :)
- replaces workforce leading to some job losses
- no human input/ decision making
- up-skilled workforce to maintain robots
- expensive to set up
What is enterprise?
Enterprise is the ability to identify a business opportunity, develop it and make it commercially successful.
What is crowd funding?
- use of small amounts of capital from many individuals to finance a new business venture.
- If the venture doesn’t meet the funding target, any funding is usually returned back to the investors.
- (damages reputation of comany if project fails)
What is virtual marketing/ retail?
The use of websites, social media, email and digital marketing to reach a wide audience to promote/sell a product, service or idea.
What is a cooperative?
an enterprise that is commonly owned and run its members who may comprise its workforce or customers.
What is Fair Trade?
An organisation that improves better prices, decent working conditions, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in less economically developed countries. (stop the exploitation of workers in poorer countries)
Give examples of products that are often protected by Fair Trade
Chocolate, wine, coffee, cotton, bananas etc
What is sustainability?
Protecting and maintaining the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
What are finite resources?
Resources that are in limited supply and are bieng used more quickly than can be replaced.
What are non-finite resources?
Resources that are in abundant supply and are unlikely to ever to be exhausted. They can be grown or replaced at the rate that they are being used.
Examples of non-finite resources
solar, wind, timbers, cotton etc
Examples of finite resources
fossil fuels, metal ores, some minerals
What is a life cycle assessment?
a way for companies to assess the environmental impact of a product during the different stages of a product’s life.
what are the 5 stages of the LCA?
- extraction and processing (energy used by extracting or processing the raw materials to be ready for manufacturing)
- manufacturing and production (energy required to manipulate the raw materials into a product ready for sale)
- distribution (packaging and transport need to take product to end user)
- use (energy required? disposable?)
- end of life (landfill or recycled)
Waste disposal in companies
- reused interally for alternative parts and products?
- sell recyclable waste? (recoups cost of materials)
- waste can heat and power a business (eg. biomass)
cause of global warming in manufacturing
- burning of fossil fuels (increased levels of CO2 cause increase in global temperature and causes extreme weather events)
Types of pollution caused by businesses
- use of chemicals in manufacturing pollute water
- plastics end up in the ocean
- burning fossil fuels for transport
- noise, light pollution
what is continuous improvement?
small but continuous improvements to processes and workflow = more efficient and effective
methods of efficient working
- staff training
- use of new technologies, automation and reduction of wastage
explain what is technology push
when new technology or materials become available, designers will utilise it to make a product before the market is aware of it. eg. the ipad (at first customers were unsure but then was quickly adopted)
- improves existing products or design new products
explain what is market pull
when the market needs a product, designers will make something to meet that demand. eg. mobile phones with cameras
- focuses on customer need
How does automation change job roles?
- automation leads to reduction of manual labour or a change in job roles and working conditions
- workforce can be retrained for new positions.
- automation usually requires fewer skilled employees than the previous number “manual” employees,
- resulting in job loss
What is culture?
An amalgamation of the ideas, beliefs, customs, and social behaviours of a society or group of people. (important for designers to be aware of the society around them and try to understand other cultures)
Fashion and trends
they come and go at a very fast pace
Faiths and beliefs
Designers must understand how a new product could have wider implications in different cultures.
What is inclusive design?
making sure that a product can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of gender, disability or age. eg. making the height of lift buttons shorter for wheelchair users
what is a flexible manufacturing system?
A method of production designed to easily adapt to changes in the quantity or type of product being manufactured
What is lean manufacturing?
focuses on minimising waste and improving efficiency (reduces waste, time, and materials)
What is the just in time production method?
- Manufacturers order materials and components to arrive at factory “just in time” to be used, rather than buying in bulk and having to pay for storage.
- Also, manufacturers try to make products or batches of products “just in time” for when the customer wants them.
- This saves money as products don’t need to be stored before sale. (saves costs associated with storage.)
Advantages of the Just in Time production method.
- products are made to order, saving on storage space.
- stock doesn’t become old or out of date
- more factory space can be utilised for other activities
- materials and components are ordered as needed, keeping cash flow in control.
Disadvantages of the Just in Time production method.
- 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.
What is computer aided design (CAD?)
enables designers, engineers and architects to produce precise technical drawings using a computer. (can be used to create 2D drawings or 3D models, easy to edit + acts as a visualisation before manufacture)
Advantages of CAD
- accurate designs
- changes and corrections can be easily made
- software can automate some design tasks
- designs can be shared and view simutaneously
- designs can be rendered to simulate the final finish
- 3D models can be produced from the designs
Disadvantages of CAD
- cost of software, hi-spec computer and printer
- work may be lost, corrupted or hacked
- time taken to learn complex software
What is computer aided manufacture (CAM)?
uses computer software to control machine tools and machinery in the manufacturing process. eg. laser cutters.
highly accurate, consistent and reduced waste
Ethics of manufacturing
- designers should conduct LCAs to evaluate impact to the environment. (pollution? ethically sourcing materials?)
- companies are increasing their environmental and social credentials due to consumer demand
- unethical solutions - underpaid labour, compromising safety, or illegal waste disposal
The Waste and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations require UK businesses to:
- 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
- eg. identical charging cables for different portable electronic devices
what is Planned or built in obsolescence
a deliberate strategy to ensure that a current version of a product will become out of date or worn out within a given time frame. (eg. making iphones more glitchy after a certain amount of time)
How do designers plan to minimise environmental impact at the end of a product’s life?
end-of-life system, takeback programmes, recovery and recycling (minimises carbon emissions and use of landfill)
What is design for maintenance
when a product is designed for maintenance, it enables parts that have worn out or broken to be replaced (disassembly)
What are the advantages of built in obsolescence
- increases demand, encourages customers to buy again
- companies use cheaper components, which only need to last as long as the planned life of the product
What are the disadvantages of built in obsolescence?
- consumers may complain about having to buy more regularly
- bad for the environment
