Technology Flashcards
Improving operations through technology
Technology is the use of machinery, robotics and computers within an organisation to enhance productivity, efficiency and consistency. One of the best ways to improve productivity levels is to increase efficiency through the implementation of technology.
Technology can be used to
Produce goods and provide services faster, using less labour and thereby, reducing costs and increasing productivity. Ford uses robots to do work such as welding and paining.
Increase the quality of goods and services leading to increased profitability.
Fewer errors may be made
Less waste may result
Reach more customers eg mobile phones and the Internet can be used to reach customers worldwide, increased sales lead to increased profit.
Increase business competitiveness for example find ways to produce far superior products and or produce them faster than competitors do.
How manufacturing and service businesses can use technology
Manufacturing: Robotics Computer aided design Computer aided manufacture Computer integrated manufacturing
Service:
Customer relationship management: maintaining customer contact and tracking purchase history
Videoconference : online lectures
Electronic payment system, eftpos, PayPass
ecommerce online shopping
Social media - Facebook advertising
Robotics and advantages
Robotics is a term used to describe special forms of technology capable of complex tasks (as shown in the gure below). Robots are used in engineering and special- ised areas of research, as well as on assembly lines, where a programmable machine capable of doing several different tasks is required. Robotics allows a degree of precision and accuracy generally unmatched by human labour. In addition, robots work without complaint or demands for wage rises, in conditions that would be soul destroying and often dangerous for employees. Robots and robotics are high cost items that are unaffordable for most small and medium-scale manufacturers.LSOs are increasingly incorporating automation — the use of computers to con- trol the operations process — into their manufacturing operations.
Computer aided design and advantages
Computer aided design (CAD) software generates three-dimensional diagrams from a set of given input data (parameters). Once the design has been created, it can be viewed from multiple angles, assisting both the designer and the end user to visualise what will be produced. It is used in a range of organisations.
From the design, material use can be calculated, as can time for the task to be completed. This enables costings of the project to be quanti ed. If the cost is too high, or if the design is too limited, the input parameters can be altered to re ect these requirements. CAD software can customise a series of options that meets the client’s or customer’s needs. Normal drafting processes would cost much more, take longer and be less accurate. CAD software can also design the sequence of steps that would need to be taken to create the desired product in the shortest possible lead time using the least material.
Computer aided manufacture advantages/uses
Computer aided manufacture (CAM) is software used to allow the manufac- turing process to become computer directed by designing and controlling the pro- cess. The CAD software can be linked to CAM software to manufacture designs that are accepted by clients. CAM can also be used more broadly to calculate how much of each input would be required.
Computer integrated manufacturing
Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) uses a computerised system to com- bine CAD and CAM to manage the entire production process. Product design, analysis, planning, purchasing, costing, inventory control and distribution can be controlled by computer.
Drawbacks of technology
Workers need to be trained to use it which cost time and money.
Technology can replace employees leading to job losses and having a negative effect on the organisations reputation.
High initial and maintenance costs.
Less tech savvy employees may struggle to adjust to the use of technology.
Describe and justify one technology strategy an airline could use to optimise their operations
Self check in and bag drop could be implemented. This would increase productivity of the airline as more customers could be checked in as there won’t be as many customers waiting at queues meaning the output of checked in customers would be achieved through less inputs as less staff will be required if many people are able to self check in. However, the costs of maintaining this technology would be high and staff would have to be trained to supervise the use of technology which would cost time and money.
Describe and justify one technology strategy a car construction company could use to optimise their operations
A car construction company could increase the use of robotics to increase productivity and optimise operations. Robotics are often more precise and can work more quickly than human labour, this would improve the quality of the product and also increase productivity as more outputs are able to be produced using the same inputs, in this case more outputs could be produced in a quick time. Robotics however can lead to less of a need for human labour encouraging businesses to downsize its employees which can have a negative effect on the businesses reputation leading to a decrease in customers attracted.
