Mumbai university > mechanical engineering > sem 7 > cad/cam/cae

Marks: 6M

Year: May 2015

Difficulty: Easy

The computer integrated manufacturing has brought the significant technological change in the field of manufacturing. However this technological change is accompanied by some social and economic impacts. Some of the positive socio-techno-economic aspects of CIM are discussed below:

a)Technological aspect: The CIM has brought in technological revolution in the field of manufacturing. Some of the positive changes brought by technological revolution of CIM are as follows:

• Increase in productivity

• Increase in plant efficiency

• Improvement in product quality

• Reduction in cost of product

• Increase in demand for the product

• High customer satisfaction.

b) Along with some positive changes, CIM has brought some challenging social aspects.

Increase in unemployment: Implementation of Cim has reduced the requirement of workforce drastically, and hence, led to the downsizing of workforce. The downsizing of workforce has created the problem of worker unrest and unemployment.

• Lower demand for traditional skill sets: With implementation of cim, the demand for traditional labour skills in the area of turning, drilling, milling, grinding etc. has reduced.

• Increase in demand for new skill sets: Cim has created increase in demand for new skill sets in the area of modeling, finite analysis, simulation, CNC programming computer operation, etc.

• Trade union resistance: The trade unions have apprehension that implementation of cim would reduce the influence of workforce, hence, reduces the influence of trade union, on industry. Therefore, trade unions have a strong resistance for the implementation of cim.

• Changes in educational system: The implementation of cim has created the increased demand for workforce with higher professional qualifications and new skill sets.  The traditional education system is not changing at required pace to provide right kind of education.

• Government policy: Because of opposition from trade unions and existing workforce to the implementation of cim, the government policies trade a balance between social aspects and support to technological developments.

c)Economic aspect:- Implementation of cim has led to the increase in profit to the companies, more revenue through taxes to the government and high salary for skilled and downsized workforce. However, the implementation of cim affects the works who lost their jobs.