Technology in production Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies (9–1) revision
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In plain words
Factories once needed hundreds of people on a line. Now many need a handful, watching machines. Computers design the product, control the equipment that makes it and check the result.
Technology can make goods cheaper and better, and it changes the jobs of everyone around it.
6 things to know
- Automation is the use of machines, controlled by computers, to do work with little human help. Robots are one form of it.
- Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers to design products: designs can be changed quickly and seen in three dimensions.
- Computer-aided manufacture (CAM) is the use of computers to control the machines that make the product.
- Benefits: higher productivity, consistent quality, lower labour costs, and machines that can work all day and night.
- Drawbacks: equipment is expensive to buy and maintain, workers need retraining, and jobs are lost, which can damage morale.
- Capital-intensive production uses a lot of machinery compared with labour. Labour-intensive production uses a lot of labour. As technology gets cheaper, many businesses become more capital-intensive.
Tips and tricks
- A business has to balance four things when it invests in technology: cost, productivity, quality and flexibility.
- Technology is not always the answer. For small quantities of varied products, skilled people may be cheaper and more flexible than a robot.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Technology in production: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What does CAD stand for?
Computers are used to design products.
Which is a benefit of automation?
A machine repeats the task exactly.
Which is a drawback of introducing robots?
The investment is large and repairs are costly.
A capital-intensive business uses
Capital means equipment.
What is CAM used for?
Computers run the manufacturing equipment.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 8 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Technology in production
Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies (9–1) 0986 · 8 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Explain what is meant by automation.[2]
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The use of machines controlled by computers to carry out production with little or no human labour.
Explain two benefits to a car manufacturer of using robots on its production line.[3]
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Robots work faster and for longer than people, so productivity is higher. They do the same task in exactly the same way every time, so quality is consistent.
Explain two possible drawbacks of introducing new technology into a factory.[3]
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The equipment is expensive to buy and maintain. Workers whose jobs it replaces are made redundant, and those who stay may be worried and less motivated.
Answers: Technology in production
- 1. The use of machines controlled by computers to carry out production with little or no human labour.
- 2. Robots work faster and for longer than people, so productivity is higher. They do the same task in exactly the same way every time, so quality is consistent.
- 3. The equipment is expensive to buy and maintain. Workers whose jobs it replaces are made redundant, and those who stay may be worried and less motivated.