Industrial Technology

Industry study

What are some features of an automated system?
Some features of an automated system are: computer programs, sensors, actuators, and control systems.
List five sociological effects of automation.
The five sociological effects of automation referred to are:
- workers are freed from unpleasant, tedious and hazardous jobs
- the numbers of workers needed has been cut sharply
- the loss of worker expertise and the displacement of unskilled and semiskilled workers
- the loss of overtime pay
- training in the new areas of electronics, computer engineering and maintenance of systems is now needed.
List some of the industries that have applied automation systems.
Some of the industries that have applied automation are:
- manufacturing
- petroleum
- iron and steel industry
- automobile industry
- service industries
- banking
- communications
- transportation.

How many hours did it take to produce a complete new car using the assembly line process?
The assembly of a complete motor car now takes three hours instead of fourteen.
Assembly line production was not new in 1903. What was Henry Ford’s innovation that sped up production even more?
Henry Ford’s innovation was the continuous or moving assembly line.

What prevented Ford from responding quickly to emerging market trends?
Hard tooling, labour specialisation and economies of scale.
How does JIT differ from producing large quantities of goods that are then stored until sold?
Only the necessary units are produced in the necessary quantities at the necessary time by bringing production rates exactly in line with market demand.
Identify the six purposes of JIT manufacturing.
The six purposes of JIT manufacturing are:
- reducing cost
- improving quality
- improving performance
- improving delivery
- adding flexibility
- increasing innovativeness.
List the seven types of waste that JIT manufacturing tries to eliminate.
The wastes to be eliminated are:
- wastes from overproduction
- transportation waste
- processing waste
- waste from product defects
- waiting time, idle time
- inventory waste (excess numbers of stock)
- waste of motion.