4.3 Design Technology
Advancements in technology have had the greater impact on process design decisions. Technological advances have enabled companies to produce faster, with better quality, at a lower cost. Many processes that were not imaginable only a few years ago have been possible through technology. In this section we look at some of the greatest impacts technology has had on process design.
Information Technology:
Information technology (IT) is technology that enables storage, processing, and communication of information within and between firms. It is also used to organize information to help managers with decision making. One type of information technology we are all familiar with is Internet, which has had greatest impact on the way companies conduct business. The Internet has linked trading partners (customers, buyers, and suppliers) and has created electronic commerce and the virtual marketplace.
Enterprise software is another powerful information technology, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP).
Other examples of IT include wireless communication technologies. We are all familiar with cellular phones and pagers in our own lives. These technologies can also significantly improve business operations.
4.3 Design Technology
Global positioning systems (GPS) comprise another type of wireless technology that uses satellite transmission to communicate exact locations.
Radio frequency identification (REID) is another wireless technology that promise to dramatically change business operations. REID uses memory chips equipped with tiny antennas that can be attached to objects to transmit streams of data about the object, REID can be used ti identify any product movement, reveal a missing product's location, or have a shipment of products "announce" their arrival.
Automation
An important decision in designing processes is whether the firm should automate, to what degree, and the type of automation that should be used.
Automation has the advantage of product consistency and ability to efficiently produce large volumes of product. With automated equipment, the last part made in the day will be exactly like the first one made.. One much device is an automated guided vehicle (AGV), a small battery-driven truck that moves materials from one location to the other. The AGV is not operated by a human and takes its direction from either an onboard or central computer.
Another type of automated material handling includes automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RSs), which are basically automated warehouses. AS/RSs use AGVs to move material and also computer-controlled racks and storage bins. The storage bins can typically rotate like a carousel, so that the desired storage bin is available for either storage or retrieval.
4.3 Design Technology
A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a type of automation system that combines the flexibility of intermittent operations with the efficiency of repetitive operations. As you can see by the definition, this is a system of automated machines, not just a single machine.
Robotics A robot in manufacturing is usually nothing more than a mechanical arm with a power supply and a computer-control mechanism that controls the movements of the arm. The arm can be used for many tasks, such as painting, welding, assembly, and loading and unloading of machines.
e-Manufacturing
Today's Web –based environment has created numerous opportunities for business collaboration. This includes collaboration in product and process design, where customers, buyers, and designers can share information and jointly make decisions in real time. Let's look at some of the computer systems that can aid e-manufacturing.
Computer-aided design (CAD) is a system that uses computer graphics to design new products. With CAD the designer can rotate the object, split it to view the inside, and magnify certain sections for closer view.
4.3 Design Technology
The designer can use the computer to compare alternative designs and determine the best design for a given set of conditions. The designer can also perform cost analysis on the design, evaluating the advantages of different types of materials.
Another advantage of CAD is that it can be linked to manufacturing. Through CAD this integration is made easy. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the process of controlling manufacturing through computers.
CAD can dramatically increase the speed of the design process. Designs can be made on the computer screen and printed out when desired. Also, by using collaborative product commerce (CPC) software, sharing designs with suppliers is possible.
Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) is a term used to describe the integration of product design, process planning, and manufacturing using an integrated computer system. Computer-integrated manufacturing systems vary greatly in their complexity.
The key element of CIM is the integration of different parts of the operation process to achieve greater responsiveness and flexibility. The purpose of CIM is to improve how quickly the company can respond to customer needs in term of product design and availability, as well as quality and productivity, and to improve overall efficiency.