Impact of manufacturing technologies

• New technologies


  Reduction in workforce, mainly in mass manufacturing industries, where machines have replaced human workers
• Replacement of human workers by machines

  Job losses and unemployment
• Unemployment


  Population migration where people move away from 'traditional' manufacturing regions to find work
• Population migration from traditional manufacturing regions

  These areas can become run down and unattractive to new workers
• Skilled workforce


  • Needed to operate and maintain manufacturing technologies
  • This has created new skilled jobs in many industries
• Work patterns


  • Machines may be required to run 24 hours a day, so people are needed to operate and maintain them round the clock
• Machines replacing human workers

  Products can be produced at a lower cost as workers are not being paid to manufacture them
• Lower cost of production

  Benefits the consumer
• Initial cost of buying equipment

  Can be very expensive
• Manufacturing technologies


  Negative impact on the environment – increased use of energy resulting in pollution and higher carbon footprint
• Negative environmental impact of manufacturing technologies

  Increased awareness of measures that can be taken to promote sustainability – reduction in waste, using recycled materials, reuse, etc.