Technology Flashcards
The different technologies used in production
The most important technologies used in production today are:
CAD
CAM
IT
robotics
computer modelling
Computer-aided design (CAD)
Computer-aided design is an interactive computer system which is capable of generating, storing and using computer graphics. It assists design engineers in solving design problems. CAD has reduced the length of time between the initial design concept and actual production. The shorter the time between an original idea and getting a product on the shelves or into the showroom, the more competitive the business can be.
Computer-aided manufacture (CAM)
The use of computers in production occurs in all sorts of industries. (An obvious example would be robotic welders in vehicle production.) Another, more unusual example is the use of CAM in packaging vegetables for supermarkets, where machines digitally photograph every vegetable and then automatically sort them into bags based on size and shape. Day in and day out, these sorting machines always produce output of the same quality, thus guaranteeing customer satisfaction.
The use of CAM can also aid flexibility in production. For example, reprogramming a welding machine is quite simple, but training a welder may be a great deal more complex and expensive. CAM can even cut costs in small businesses. For example, tailors and dressmakers use CAM machines to cut material in the most economical way, ensuring that waste is minimised.
Computer modelling
With the right information input, computers can be used to model anything from wear and tear of a pair of shoes to the electricity generated from a wind turbine in different wind conditions. Use of modelling allows developers to try a huge range of ‘what if’ scenarios, such as ‘what happens to the life of the shoe when we change the stitching?’, or ‘what will happen to the efficiency of the wind turbine if we alter the angle of the blades by a few fractions of a degree?’.
Using computer models allows businesses to perfect their products and continually improve efficiency of production.
How is information technology (IT) used in businesses to increase productivity?
IT is used for preformatted letters, customer databases, cash flow modeling, stock management, and more.
What role does marketing play in the effective use of information technology?
Marketing utilizes IT for web presence, customer profiling, targeted advertising, and automated sales generation.
Advantages of Technology
The advantages to businesses of using technology include:
Improved quality. Thanks to their high precision and the ability to repeat a task time after time with the same outcome, robots and CAM processes have the ability to consistently produce top-quality products and accurately perform repetitive tasks.
Faster innovation. It is much easier, and less expensive, to model and test new products using CAD and computer modelling.
More effective marketing and sales. Marketing new products encourages consumers to dump old products and buy new ones on a regular basis.
Less dependency on labour. This is important to the business in reducing costs, especially if workers had used their bargaining power to push for higher wages and improved conditions.
In addition to this, technology increases productivity, reduces waste and costs, and improves communications for a business
What are some impacts of the digital revolution on businesses?
The digital revolution has led to the use of social networking for marketing, integration of tablets and portable devices in offices, and increased online product purchases via mobile phones.
the potential cost of using new technology
All technology costs money - for example, to build a state-of-the-art car plant it would cost hundreds of millions of pounds! There is always pressure to buy the latest machine, the fastest computer or the newest robotics. Also, technology does not always work, or there are huge cost overruns.
There are also a number of different labour costs related to the implementation of technology. Some workers are likely to lose their jobs, especially those who are not adaptable, cannot be retrained or do not have specialised skills. Workers who remain after redundancies have occurred may feel less secure and less motivated in their work; they may also need retraining, which will cost the business.
There will, however, be new opportunities for workers with the skills now needed to run the latest technology. Whether a business introduces technology depends on a number of factors, including size and scale, the market and industry, etc
