Core technical principles

What is automation

the use of control systems including those for design and manufacture

positive of automation

• reduced labour costs

• Greater precision, greater control

• Flexible production as CNC machinery can be quickly reprogrammed

• Greater job opportunities for engineers

Negatives of automation

• high cost of buying, installing and repairing systems

• Risk of power failure

• Risk of system errors

What is robotics

The use of machinery to carry out complex tasks

positives of robotics

• ideal for tasks that are repetitive

• Can carry extremely heavy loads without tiring

• Can be programmed to do different tasks

Negatives of robotics

• cannot replace human judgement when making complex decisions

• May lead to fewer jobs for people

How do companies need to adapt the place of work

• more flexible building design

• Automation and remote working

• Smaller factory units because of JIT

• Automated storage and retrieval systems

How can tools and equipment be adapted

• multi-purpose equipment

• Equipment organised into flexible manufacturing cells

• Tools automated to improve safety and speed of manufacture

What are sources of crowd founding

• donation

• Debt

• Equity

Positives of online presence

• increased ales

• Relatively cheap to set up and run

Negatives of online presence

• sometimes complicated

• Spam emails to advertise products are often not popular with costumers

Positives of co-operatives

• can increase purchasing and marketing power

• Are easy to form with limited liability

Negatives of co-operatives

• often have limited resources or funding

• Can be hard to manage efficiently