The Effect of ICT on Business: Manufacturing

Benefits of Software

The CAD software is also a great program because it  is also used for geometric modelling, engineering analysis, design review and optimisation and automated drafting.  Computer aided design (CAD) is widely used in the watches and clocks industries to improve speed, accuracy and efficiency in the production process and reduce time and cost in product design. In particular, the use of 3-Dimensional CAD, parametric-based components CAD Database greatly enhances designers' creativity. Leading manufacturers also make use of computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines to produce watch cases.  CAM involves computer control of the manufacturing process, such as determining tool movements and cutting speeds.  CAM equipment is able to respond rapidly to product design changes and can be quickly reprogrammed to suit new products as the market demand changes and time required for a planner to make planning is reduced. It also reduces costs of planning and manufacturing so that expenses for can be minimized. Computer can create more accurate plans without errors and directly increase productivity, decrease required tooling and machine inventory.   The use of CAD/CAM has led to major increases in productivity, faster response to the market, and reduced lead times and costs. Designers today can work closely with suppliers and experts on a global basis, such as Lucas Industries or Austin Rover through the use of desktop video conferencing or by electronic transmittal of design work, leading to further reduction in lead times and costs. The designer of the 1990s has clearly become more of a technocrat and, through the use of ICT; design work is performed on an international stage.

Different types of Hardware

Coordinate Measurement Machine or sometimes referred to as CMM,  are used to automatically control the dimensions to assure high quality in the manufacturing of high precision products.    Automated Guided Vehicles otherwise known as AGVs are unmanned, computer-controlled materials transport vehicles. Another type is Robots which, is a mechanical device operated automatically to perform in a seemingly human way. 

Benefits of Hardware

The benefit of the CMM program is that it speeds up the process of having a person control the dimensions of a product that has extremely complex dimensions.  This software also ensures a high quality finish of the product. The AGV hardware is also a great package device because they are designed to follow painted lines on floor or buried cables. AGVs are well suited to support different operations and have a variety of applications. Again this type of hardware increases production and also makes sure that the products are carried out with precision.  Robots are especially useful to perform with great accuracy or to work in hazardous environments. Some of the benefits that can be achieved by robots are improvements in quality, increased capacity and higher productivity. In general, industrial robots are used for jobs that are dirty, dull, dangerous or difficult-the types of jobs that humans do most poorly.  Robots are also used very frequently and are sometimes used to undertake dirty and repetitive work such as welding, paint spraying, loading, and stacking. The benefits of robotics include consistency, the ability to work in hazardous areas, and cost savings in terms of heating, lighting, and labour. Extended developments in robotics have allowed second generation "smart" robots with vision systems to perform an increasing number of applications with a reprogram able memory and sensing devices allowing changes to functionality and to react in an intelligent way to determine optimal solutions for such duties as fitting windscreens or moving or moving appliances in a shop.  It is estimated that each robot replaces between five and ten workers.

Consequences

The consequences to companies and businesses who have restricted or no access ICT would find it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the customers.  This is because the businesses who do have access to ICT mainly produce their goods in bulk, which means they produce a lot of goods at a time to meet the demands of the customers.  For example in businesses who produce Coca Cola they use sophisticated machinery in order to produce 20,000 bottles per hour.  However for the businesses also producing Coca Cola but had restricted access to ICT then they would be lucky to produce  200 bottles per hour.  This is due to the fact that their employees, which nowadays would be produced by robots, would have to due this intensive labour by hand, therefore decreasing production and increasing the space for errors.  It also increases the costs of planning and manufacturing so that expenses for the business would be maximized.  Not keeping up with technology leads to people being disadvantaged socially, in education and in employment in many ways such as; not being able to access the huge range of information available over the Internet or on CD-Rom and digital television etc as well as not being able to use ICT skills such as using word processing and DTP software.  Also not being able to sort, search and analyse data using software such as spreadsheets and databases.  In addition,  being unable able to use more advanced communication methods such as email, news groups, bulletin-boards, telecommunications etc.  as well as not being able to use creative tools such as graphics software, CAD and 3D design software, as well as music and video editing software.

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