Unit 5 - Business Operations (Technology in Production) Flashcards
The Impact of New Technology in the Primary Sector
Primary Sector - machines and systems have helped to raise productivity in agriculture - significantly reduced the need to employ workers on farms.
Chemicals and pesticides have also helped to increase crop quantities and biological research has developed plants that are less likely to suffer from diseases.
Developments in GM crops are useful and beginning to have an impact - customers want to buy them.
Another technological development in agriculture is application of drones.
Mining industry, new cutting machinery has raised productivity and improved the health and safety of workers.
Technology designed to decrease energy, water and chemicals used in the extraction and analysis of materials from the ground - improved recovery of usable materials by 25%
The Impact of New Technology in the Secondary Sector
Production has become more capital-intensive in many industries - machinery used in production instead of other resources such as labour.
New technology is flexible, sophisticated and highly effective:
- Robots
- Computer Aided Design
- Computer Numerically Controlled Machines
- Computer Aided Manufacturing
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Robots
Feature largely in assembly and on production lines. Robots for manufacturing are divided into three categories:
- Material handling robots: Transport of goods, parts or stock.
- Processing operations robots: Perform a specific tasked and are fitted with tools for that task.
- Assembly line robot: Perform single task on assembly line.
Computer aided design (CAD)
Use of computers to design products. Design of products improved because of CAD. Allows a business to produce accurate drawings to be viewed in 3D which can then be altered cheaply and quickly. Designs can be accurately measured and tested on computers for faults. Eliminates the need to build prototypes and models. Can identify the best or optimal design solutions because it can analyse a range of alternatives
Computer Numerically Controlled Machines
Machines that carry out instructions fed by computers. Produce both uniform and irregular shapes accurately and perform repetitive tasks without human error. Some CNC machines use instruments and co-ordinate measuring machines to take simple or complex measurements.
Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
Where computers link and control design and production of goods in manufacturing. CAM can also refer to the use of a computer to assist in all production operations. Speeds up production and minimises waste because it uses the exact amount of energy and raw materials needed.
Computer Integrated Manaufacturing (CIM)
Use of computers to control the entire production process. Functional areas such as planning, purchasing, stock control etc are linked through the computer with factory floor functions such as materials management providing direct control and monitoring of all processes - people are only used for supervising, monitoring and maintenance work.
Impact of new Technology on the Tertiary Sector
In the past, provision of services has been mainly labour intensive - new technologies are being rapidly developed for use in the tertiary sector:
- Financial Services
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Retailing
- Leisure Industry
- Administration and Communication
- e-commerce (e-tailing)
Financial Services
Many transactions are now online. ATM’s to withdraw cash 24/7. Money transferred from one account to another electronically from anywhere with a smartphone, even internationally. EFTPOS (electronic funds transfer at point of sale) reduces the need for cash.
Marketing
IT made market research easier. Gathering, processing and presentation of market research is cheaper using IT. Data can be gathered online - convenient for consumers and therefore more data is likely to be gathered.
Advertising
Latest film technology and special effects to make adverts more exciting and entertaining. Internet used to promote products. Business have own websites where information is posted and updated regularly.
Retailing
Number of technological developments such as EFTPOS, EPOS. Refers to technologies that record the sales of goods or services to the customer at point of sale. Scanning goods into a machine by cashiers or consumers using barcodes to produce a range of information. Saves time, improves stock control, automatically orders new stock. Led to huge growth in online shopping.
Leisure Industry
Technology allows people to travel without a ticket. Bookings made by the internet or telephone and a credit card.
Administration and Communication Costs
The use of IT has helped reduced costs. Huge amounts of data can be gathered, processed, edited, stored and accessed using computer databases.
e-commerce
Involves the use electronic systems to buy and sell products. Most e-commerce takes place online or electronically. Some e-commerce still involves trading in physical goods such as clothes and consumer durables - called e-tailing - order online and delivered to your home. B2B involves businesses selling to other businesses online.
