Cambridge IGCSE Business (0264) syllabus reference: 4.2.1
Success criteria - by the end of this topic you can:
- explain how automation, mechanisation, CAM and 3D printing are changing production
- explain how technology improves productivity in services
- explain advantages and disadvantages for businesses and employees
Key terms
Automation - production controlled by machines and computers with little human involvement.
Mechanisation - production using machines that are operated by people.
Computer-aided manufacture (CAM) - using computers to control machines in production.
3D printing - making a solid object layer by layer from a digital design.
In services: contactless and UPI payments, self-service checkouts, online booking and chatbots increase the number of customers served per employee.
Technology for businesses
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|
| Higher productivity and lower unit costs | High purchase cost |
| More consistent quality | Breakdowns stop production |
| Fewer employees needed | Needs training; quickly outdated |