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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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