Impact on industry
Technology continues to be developed for manufacturing processes in order to improve quality and speed of making while maintaining customer satisfaction.
Automation
Using automatic equipment in production. has been developing in factories since the The process that transformed manufacturing from handmade to machine-made, mass-produced goods using water, steam and coal power transported by canal, rail and steamship. Britain was the first country to have an Industrial Revolution., with machinery being used to complete tasks previously done by humans. Automated machines are programmed to carry out a procedure multiple times, eg repeatedly creating the shape of a car door using a press, to improve production time.
| Advantages of automation | Disadvantages of automation |
| Repeats the process fast and can run 24 hours | Reduces employment workforce |
| Opportunities for higher skilled workers | Expensive to set up and fix |
| Less chance of human error | Needs maintaining |
| Less waste | Training needed to work the machines |
| Lower running costs |
| Advantages of automation | Repeats the process fast and can run 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of automation | Reduces employment workforce |
| Advantages of automation | Opportunities for higher skilled workers |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of automation | Expensive to set up and fix |
| Advantages of automation | Less chance of human error |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of automation | Needs maintaining |
| Advantages of automation | Less waste |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of automation | Training needed to work the machines |
| Advantages of automation | Lower running costs |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of automation |
Robotics
The use of robots is just one part of automation. The difference between robotics and automation is that robots use Use of computer systems to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. to collect information and improve the performance of a particular procedure. Robotics have proven popular because of their ability to increase efficiency and handle harmful materials that humans can't, but they are very expensive.
| Advantages of robotics | Disadvantages of robotics |
| Increased efficiency - can work at a constant speed without tiring | Very expensive to set up and repair |
| Can handle harmful materials | Need constant power |
| More precise | Loss of jobs |
| Faster speed | Training needed to supervise them |
| Advantages of robotics | Increased efficiency - can work at a constant speed without tiring |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of robotics | Very expensive to set up and repair |
| Advantages of robotics | Can handle harmful materials |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of robotics | Need constant power |
| Advantages of robotics | More precise |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of robotics | Loss of jobs |
| Advantages of robotics | Faster speed |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages of robotics | Training needed to supervise them |
Specialist buildings
Technology that uses a chip to store information. has improved the efficiency of buildings, with many factories using Power that is generated using natural resources that will not run out, eg wind and wave power. sources to try to minimise environmental impact. A building made of smaller, prebuilt parts put together. can be erected quickly and at a low cost, and improvements in stock control mean less storage space is needed.
