1. 4.1.3 How Technology has Changed Production Methods
IGCSE Business Studies
4.1.3 How Technology has Changed Production Methods

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To Understand how technology has changed/influenced production
To have knowledge of some technology currently used by businesses to improve production processes

3. Starter – 10 minutes
On your own close your eyes, and consider what the world might look like today if we had no computers or machines – 2 mins
Discuss what you considered with the person next to you – 3 mins
Feedback - 5mins
What products or services would even exist?

4. Research Task 15 - mins Divide up into: Primary Sector
Secondary Sector
Tertiary Sector
Each group create a google doc and research the types of technology currently used in each sector. Use the Table headings:
> Name of Technology
> Why is it used
> Will it be used in the future

5. TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING
Labour is expensive to employ
Firms try to replace labour with machines to save money
MECHANISATION – is when machinery is used but labour is still required in order to work the machine e.g farm work
AUTOMATION – is when a computer is used and a computer controls it. Workers onky employed to programme and supervise machinery

6. TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is when the machines used to make the product are controlled by computer.
This reduces labour costs, is more accurate and faster and can work at any hour of the day.
Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) is when computers control the whole production line
e.g. car production where robots undertake much of the work, reducing the need for labour to perform boring, routine tasks.

7. Computer-aided design (CAD)
Computer-aided design (CAD) Computers are used to help design products using computer generated models and 3D drawings.
Reduces the need to build physical models to test certain conditions, known as prototypes.
This can be expensive to produce just for testing purposesM (e.g. aircraft or new cars.

8. ADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCTION
Large amounts can be made  economies of scale, meaning unit costs of production fall
Productivity of workers improves. The output per worker increases and so labour costs fall for each product made
Quality of production can be improved because machines are less likely to make mistakes  reduce wastage  save money. Improved quality may attract new customers

9. Production can be flexible
Production can be flexible. Machines can be programmed to produce variety of products in order to meet needs of individual cistomers
Repetitive or dangerous jobs may be done by machines rather than people

10. PROBLEMS OF TECHNOLOGY
When firm introduces new technology it may need to make workers redundant.
Costs of making workers redundant may be high
May be problems with trade unions as they may take industrial action against the redundancies

11. Firm may need to recruit new employees with skills to use new technology
These workers likely to be in high demand and will be paid high salaries
Existing employees may need re-training to work new machines
Buying and installing machines can be very expensive. A firm risks a lot of money when it introduces new technology.

12. Plenary - Final Thought
How might 3D printing potentially affect manufacturing businesses in the future?