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3.1 Modern technologies and materials

The creation and use by industry of modern and ‘smart’ materials

• LCD displays.

• Smart and composite materials

— carbon fibres

— thermochromic liquid crystals

— phosphorescent pigments

— polymorph

— Kevlar

— piezo-electric actuators and transducers

— electronic point of sale (EPOS)

— radio frequency identification (RFID).

• New materials as used in the computer and electronics industry.

 Smart Materials and composites.
New and advance materials - essay. Makes reference to computer and electronics industry.

The impact of modern technology and biotechnology on the development of new materials and processes

• Genetic engineering in relation to woods, for example altering genes to provide quicker-growing trees, or to supply wood that resists wear, rot or infestation.

• The construction of exterior furniture.
• The long term future of a managed timbre supply.

• Special effects in the cinema and on television.

• Internet website design.

• hyper link
• hot spot.

— producing materials that are totally recyclable.  (products designed to be environmemtrally friendly)

• Modification of properties of materials

— paper and board used in laminates and construction

— seasoning and lamination of woods

— polymerisation of plastics

3.2 Product manufacture

Uses of ICT in the manufacture of products resource1

The impact and advantages/disadvantages of ICT within the total manufacturing process:

• electronic communications

— email

— Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

— Integrated Services Data Network (ISDN)

— Local Area Networks (LAN)

— global networks (internet)

— video conferencing

— new communications technology

• electronic information handling
        — market analysis

• automated stock control

— ‘just in time’

• production scheduling and production logistics

• flexible manufacturing systems

— quick response manufacturing (QRM)

• production control, for example monitoring quality using lasers and coordinate measurement machines (CMMs)

• product marketing, distribution and retailing

—  EPOS

— internet marketing.

Systems and control

Computer-Aided Design, Manufacture and Testing (CADMAT), Computer-Integrated Manufacture (CIM), Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) and their wider application in industry:

• creative and technical design

• modelling and testing

— CAD

— rapid prototyping (RPT)

— virtual reality modelling

• production planning

• control of equipment, processes, quality and safety

• control of complex manufacturing processes

• integrated and concurrent manufacturing.

The use of block flow diagrams and flow process diagrams for representing simple and complex production systems including open/closed loop control, feedback and degrees of freedom.

The advantages and disadvantages of automation and its impact on employment, both local and global.

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• global sustainable, development, the use of non-renewable raw materials and fossil fuels during the manufacturing process
• renewable sources of energy
• energy conservation and the use of efficient manufacturing processes
• new technology and environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes
• importance of using sustainable technology
• minimising waste production.

3.3 Design in practice

Values issues

The impact of values issues on product design, development and manufacture:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Responsibilities of ‘developed’ countries in relation to production and the environment:

• global sustainable development.

Environmental implications of the industrial age: resource 1

• the use of non-renewable raw materials and fossil fuels during the manufacturing process

• renewable sources of energy, energy conservation and the use of efficient manufacturing processes

• new technology and environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes

• importance of using sustainable technology

• minimising waste production.

Economics of production

Economic factors in the production of one-off, batch, high volume

(mass) and continuous manufactured products, relating to, for

example:

• sources, availability and costs of materials

• advantages of economies of scale of production

• the relationship between design, planning and production costs

• the material and manufacturing potential for a given design

solution.

.

Advertising and marketing

The role of the media, including film, television, radio, video, newspapers and magazines, the internet, in marketing products.

The basic principles of marketing and associated concepts such as brand loyalty, competitive edge, consumer demand, lifestyle marketing, market pull, market share, price range, product proliferation, promotional gifts, target market groups.

Organisations that provide guidance, discrimination and approval:

• British Standards Institute (BSI)

• Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)

• consumer magazines/TV programmes.

Relevant legislation on the rights of the consumer when purchasing goods:

• statutory rights