Technological Development Strategies Flashcards
What is a tech development strategy?
a strategy operations managers use to increase a businesses efficiency and effectiveness by implementing technology in place of people
Tech development helps businesses speed up or shorten manufacturing processes
it allows businesses to be more time and cost effective
What are the 4 technical dev strategies?
Automated production lines
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided manufacturing techniques
Website development
What area of management responsibility controls technical development and CAD?
Operations managers
Website development
websites are used for marketing, and makes it easy for customers to purchase products online
Website upgrades improve quality and effectiveness, e.g. adding a shopping cart to keep track of items
Websites can provide analytics and information to business to help them improve
Automated Production Lines
Programmable machinery and equipment replace employees in the production process to create a streamlined manufacturing line up (usually in the form of a conveyor belt)
Advantages/Disadvantages of Automated Production Lines
Advantage-
high production rates, more productivity
speedy, accurate and precise outputs
robots don’t need break or pay, can work continuously
less waste, more standardisation
Disadvantage-
machines are expensive, hard for small businesses to purchase
costly to maintain/replace
employee training is needed to operate machines (money/time cost)
APD can break down
Computer-aided Design
CAD creates 3D digital diagrams of products that can be adjusted and viewed from all angles
helps designers and manufacturers in tweaking design to fit requirements
if cost is too high, or design is bad it can be adjusted without creating the actual product first
Advantages/Disadvantages of CAD
Advantages -
produces at faster rates with less cost
can view a design from multiple angles, helps visualise product before manufacturing (waste minimisation)
can create 3D diagram that can alter designs seamlessly
Disadvantages- computers can crash and loose work software can be expensive staff training is time consuming less jobs for people
Computer-aided Manufacturing
CAM is the use of machinery and software to control manufacturing processes
Automated machinery is programmed to produce products
Reduces waste, increases production, improves quality
CAD and CAM can be linked to create acceptable designs for clients
Advantages/Disadvantages of CAM
Advantages- faster production with less cost produces at greater consistency (each product is the same) and accuracy greater efficiency robots don't take breaks
Disadvantages-
computers can crash
machines aren’t versatile in different tasks
CAM is expensive to purchase and maintain
time/money costs in training staff
less jobs for people
What is ‘procurement’ ?
the process of researching and selecting suppliers, creating payment terms, negotiating contracts, and purchasing actual resources
