SA.1 New & Emerging Technologies Flashcards
What is automation
Enables repetitive tasks to be performed by mechanised assembly lines rather than by humans.
Automation & robots adv
Increased efficiency & speed of production
Accurate & consistent output
Reduced labour costs (work 24/7)
What are robots
Robots can be controlled to automatically perform series of complex movements. Used to substitute humans in hazardous env
Automation & robots disadv
Replaces workforce leading to job loss
No human input
Expensive
Place of work, manufacturing stages
Delivery depot - raw mats arrive
Production line - raw mars processed assembled into prod
Packaging & distribution - prods packaged, shipped to customers
What is enterprise
Enterprisev is the ability to identify a business opportunity, develop it & make it commercially successful.
Crowd funding (+adv)
The use of small amounts of capital from many individuals to finance a new business.
The use of websites & social media enables broad range of investors to invest in an idea, usually in return for shares should the venture succeed.
Provides platform for businesses to reach a large audience of funders
Crowd funding (disadv)
If the venture doesnt reach a funding target, any finance pledged is usualky returned to investors
If project fails, can damage company reputation
Virtual marketing
Use of websites, social media, email & digital marketing to reach wider audience to promote product
Relies on hits, clicks & likes
Ads
Cooperative
An enterprise commonly owned & run by its members.
Formed to enable group of ppl w the same business interests to have stronger voice
Fair trade org
Better prices, working conditions & fair terms of trade for farmers & workers in less economically developed countries.
Ensures companies pay a fair/sustainable prices for their produce so farmers imrpove QoL
Sustainability meaning
Protecting/maintaining needs of present w/o compromising future needs
Finite resources
Limited supply, used faster than replaced
Eg, fossil fuels, metal ores
Non-finite resources
Resources in abundant supply, replaced at same rate as used
Eg. Solar, wind
Life Cycle Assessment LCA
way for companies to assess the environmentak impacts of a product during diff stages of its life
LCA 5 stages
- Extraction & processing - energy used to extract raw mats
- Manufacturing & production - energy needed to manipulate raw mat into refined mats for product
- Distribution - packaging & transport of product
- Use
- End of life - disposal
Technology push
When new tech becomes available, designers utilise it to make a product before the market is aware of it
Market pull
When market needs a product, designers make smth to meet that demand in response to customer needs
How is culture important for design
Fashion trends - market is influenced by ‘latest thing’, natural tendancy for consumers to want to buy into certain, new lifestyles
Faiths & beliefs - desinger responsible for considering wider implications of new product within diff faiths & communities
Flexible manufacturing system (FMS)
A method of production designed to easily adapt to changes in the quanity of product being manufactured.
Systems can be configured to manage any change in levels of production
Lean manufacturing
Focuses on minimising waste & improving efficiency, in turn saving costs
Just-in-Time (JIT) manufacture
Production method to respond to customer demand. By closely monitoring stock, products can be reordered as needed
Jus-in-Time (JIT) manufacutre adv
Products made to order, saving storage space
Stock doesnt become old/out of date
More factory space for other uses
Just-in-Time (JIT) manufacture disadv
Supply chain must be reliable & fast
Sales are affected by any delay in production/product failures
More expensive - ordering in small quantities prevents bulk volume discounts
CAD
enables designers to produce precise technical drawings using a computer. Can be used to create 2D drawings/3D models
CAD adv
Accurate designs/measurements
Changes/corrections made easily
Visualisation before manufacturing
CAD disadv
Cost of software (hi-spec comouter, printer)
Time taken to learn complex software
Work may be lost (data corrupted/lost)
CAM (computer aided manufacture)
Uses computer software to control machine tools & machinery in manufacturing process. Translates CAD data into instruction for machinery
(eg, laser cutter)
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations require UK businesses to…
Minimise waste from their electrical equip, promoting reuse
Recycle waste products correctly
Design products by reducing mat use, enhancing reusability & recyclability
Planned obsolescence
Deliberate strategy to ensure that a current version of a product will become out of date/worn out within given time frame.