Sustainability & the impact of new technologies

• Computer aided manufacture is when a machine is controlled by a computer to create an exact replica of the digitally designed product. Examples include 3D printing, laser cutting and using a CNC router.
• Benefits of computer aided manufature:

  • Unit cost for mass production is very low.
  • Quality assurance – all will be made the same, no room for human error.
  • Digital distribution – because they are digital, plans and production drawings can be sent via the internet all over the world.
  • Clean manufacturing – no waste, clean energy sources used to manufacture.
• Drawbacks of computer aided manufature

  • Breakdown – if something breaks down, all production stops.
  • Set up costs – machines, computing equipment and software can be expensive
• Impact of design technologies:

  Consumerism

  • The growth and development of design technologies can be linked to the rise of consumerism.
  • Improvements in technology means that a wider range of consumer products can be made and distributed quickly, at a lower price.
  • Increased affordability and accessibility encourages consumers to purchase goods in ever greater amounts.
  • Design technologies have helped clothing retailers such as Primark, Boohoo and Shein become successful in the ultra-fast fashion business.
• Impact of design technologies:

  Environmental impact

  Decisions a designer makes about materials, packaging, or the manufacturing process can have an impact on the environment, eg:

  • Choice of raw materials may increase the product’ carbon footprint.
  • Materials and packaging used to make the product may or may not be recyclable.
  • Emissions from factories used to manufacture the product may pollute the air and add to global warming.
• Impact of manufacturing technologies:

  positives:

  • A skilled workforce is needed to operate and maintain manufacturing technologies as they can run 24 hours a day, This has created new skilled jobs in many industries.
  • As machines replace human workers, products can be produced at a lower cost as workers are not being paid to manufacture them.
  • A higher carbon footprint can cause increased awareness of measures that can be taken to promote sustainability: reduction in waste, using recycled materials, reuse.
• Impact of manufaturing technologies:

  negatives:

  • New technologies have led to a reduction in workforce, mainly in mass manufacturing industries, where machines have replaced human workers. This has resulted in job losses and unemployment.
  • unemployment can lead to population migration where people move away from ‘traditional’ manufacturing regions to find work. As a result, these areas can become run down and unattractive to new workers.
  • Manufacturing technologies can have a negative impact on the environment – increased use of energy resulting in pollution and higher carbon footprint.
• The initial cost of buying machines can be very expensive
• There are steps that manufacturers can take to reduce the impact on the environment.

  • Use easily recycled materials
  • Use sustainable sources for materials
  • Use forms of renewable energy for production
  • Minimise waste during production
  • Use recycled materials to manufacture the product
  • Label the components to allow for recycling
• some more steps manufacturers can take to reducde the impact on the evironment are:

  • Use manufacturing processes that won’t harm the environment
  • Manufacture close to the market to minimise transport
  • Use efficient machinery
  • Use energy efficient forms of transport for goods
  • Reduce the amount of material used (product and packaging)
  • Reuse components from other products
  • Flat pack products so more can be transported at one time