The Impact of Modern Engineering Technologies
How new engineering technologies such as automation, robotics and 3D printing affect production, society and the environment, weighing the benefits against the drawbacks.
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Technology changes engineering
Modern engineering leans on machines that design, make and check products with little human help. These technologies bring real benefits, but they also have downsides. A strong answer always weighs the good against the bad and says who is affected. This module looks at their impact on production, on society and on the environment.
Technology words
Learn these four terms before you weigh up the impacts.
Two sides of automation
Automation shows how one technology brings both benefits and drawbacks.
Weigh both sides
A top answer never lists only the good or only the bad. For each technology give a benefit and a drawback, and say who is affected: the company, the workers, the customers or the environment. Balancing the two sides is what lifts the mark.
Match the technology
- CAD
- CAM
- CNC
- 3D printing
- designing a product on a computer
- using a computer to control the making
- a machine guided by a computer program
- makes a part straight from a computer model
Match the impact
- impact on production
- impact on society
- impact on the environment
- impact on industry
- parts are made faster and more precisely
- some manual jobs are lost to machines
- less material is wasted
- companies can compete and grow
A benefit of automation
What is one clear benefit of using automation in a factory?
- Parts are made faster and more consistently.
- It removes every cost completely.
- It needs no electricity at all.
- Every product is still made by hand.
Benefits of automation
Select the TWO true benefits of automation.
- Machines can work around the clock.
- Robots can take on the riskiest tasks.
- The machines cost nothing to buy.
- Every part is still shaped by hand.
Automate a line
Put the steps of setting up an automated production line in order, earliest first.
- An engineer designs the part using CAD
- CAM software programs the machines
- The robots and CNC machines are set up
- The line produces parts automatically
Complete the facts
A factory uses _____ to make parts with few workers. A 3D printer builds a part up in _____. Faster, cheaper products are a benefit to _____. Less wasted material is good for the _____. A drawback is that some workers lose their _____.
Output increase
A factory made 40 parts an hour by hand and now makes 100 parts an hour with a robot. Subtract 40 from 100 to find the increase. What is the increase in parts per hour?
Find the environment impacts
Tap the TWO impacts that affect the environment.
- less material waste
- electronic waste
- faster production
- fewer manual jobs
Which impact is it?
Read each change and choose which kind of impact it is.
- A new machine lets the factory make twice as many parts each hour
- Several assembly workers are retrained because robots now do their old jobs
- A 3D printer uses only the material the part needs, cutting waste
Weigh a technology
Explain the impact of one modern technology used in engineering. Give a benefit and a drawback, and say who is affected.
- Name a modern engineering technology
- Explain one benefit it brings and who gains
- Explain one drawback and who it affects