Chapter 2 Manufacturing Systems
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can face a lifelong challenge in manufacturing.
Those who cannot or will not adapt to new job
requirements most likely will face unemploy-
ment. This “change and advance” or “stand still
and lose out” attitude can be considered an out-
put of the system.
Effects of Developments
in Manufacturing
More than ever, people are immersed in a
world shaped by human technology. People’s
responsibilities in a technological age are defined
as coming to grips with the problems of living
in, and exerting influence upon, the constructed
world. The risks and benefits related to techno-
logical developments in manufacturing must be
weighed so that the world is not influenced
negatively. For example, in the future it is dis-
covered there is a development that will cut the cost of manufacturing a product
in half. However, the waste produced during the manufacturing process is haz-
ardous and hard to handle and dispose. The amount and level of risks can deter-
mine if a development in manufacturing is used or more research and changes
are needed to make the development better.
People need to draw relationships to larger world issues and to discuss both
the positive and negative aspects of technology. This will help provide an accu-
rate view of how developments in manufacturing play important roles in both
meeting human needs and creating human problems.
Assessing Risks and Benefits
The interactions between technology and society sometimes lead to issues
that can only be resolved by examining all factors involved. An assessment of
the beliefs, values, and alternate solutions associated with each side helps
determine benefits. Problem-solving and decision-making strategies are used to
aid in determining risks and benefits of developments in manufacturing.
Developing alternatives and reaching a rational decision are the goal of these
strategies. The four basic principles of making a rational decision are discovering
the need for a decision, exploring the values and goals relevant to the decision
opportunity, developing alternative courses of action, and predicting likely conse-
quences (positive and negative) of alternative courses of action.
There should be an understanding of the relationships between technology
and social change, as well as the trade-offs and unexpected side effects that
result from technological developments. The effects of the technological inno-
vation should be listed and categorized according to whether the effects were
planned or unplanned. The effects should be divided into positive (a benefit to
people), negative (harmful to people), or both (have both positive and negative
aspects). The effects should be described as local, regional, national, or global.
Finally, actions that can be taken to alleviate the negatives should be listed.
Figure 2-12. Working in the manufacturing system can
be challenging and exciting.