Introduction.
Technology is an aspect that has affected almost all aspects of human life. Since the onset of technological revolution in the 19th century, more has been done to march the constantly dynamic technological advancement. In fact, people have to march the current days’ technology or be competed out, that’s how serious technological revolution is. One of the sectors that is hardly hit by technological advancement is the manufacturing industry, clients are quite demanding in terms of technology, tastes and preferences are in close proximity to technology (Voss, 2012).
Advanced manufacturing technology is simply the use of technology to either improve or raise the production or the process of production. The relevant technology used in manufacturing is what is being termed as advanced or innovative technology, however, some scholars refer to it as cutting edge (Voss, 2012). Therefore, advanced manufacturing are those production lines that have integrated the new and innovative technologies in their production processes, nonetheless, production still remains the same, and it is the process that changes. In the recent past and current times, industries have been adopting appropriate technology in the production processes to either remain more competitive or add value to their produce (Schroeder, Gopinath, & Congden, 2011).
Literature Review.
Manufacturers in the United States of America and elsewhere across the globe face numerous challenges as far as technological advancement is concerned, competition has become so stiff and those companies that have not employed technology are being rendered irrelevant. Most often than not, employees who work in companies that still use traditional methods of production have been subject to a lot of work than their counterparts. Companies face new challenges that have been brought over by the need to employ more effective and in that case more efficient production systems (Riggs & Backer, 2014).
Review of several literatures review that adoption of technology in the line of production remains manufacturers nightmare across the globe. Each and every manufacturer need to be more competitive; for sustainability and to attract as much customers (Helfgott, 2010). Without these, an industry is likely to make huge loses. In order to face both domestic and global competition, manufacturers need to equip their production lines with the current days’ technology. Studies reveal that the new technologies are actually the offshoots of the computing evolution; in a nutshell, technological evolvement has been brought about by the computing era. In the line of production, employees are left to control the automated manufacturing systems using computers (Mechling, Pierce, & Busbin, 2013).
However, for the small manufactures who cannot afford the automated advanced manufacturing systems, they are left at the mercy of the constantly demanding customers. The world has so far become a global village, thanks to the advanced communication and transport system, small scale manufacturers who still use traditional methods of production no longer feel immune to the global competition. A product manufactured in a distant continent using the advanced technology can easily penetrate remote markets across the globe (Helfgott, 2010).
Research Question.
Can the lack of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) affect companies and employees?
Theoretical Framework.
Researchers have constantly argued that for a small scale business to survive the stiff domestic and global competition, they must be able to employ the latest technology and produce goods and services that conform to the current day’s technology. For small scale manufactures, the micro-computer is seen as the ideal and most effective alternative to use in the line of production than the main frame computer. In a bid to produce goods and services that conform to the current technology, traditional methods of production must be put aside (Bessant, & Gordon, 2012).
Nonetheless, advanced manufacturing technologies come with their own benefits both to the company owners and to the employees (Jelinek & Goldhar, 2013). One of the facts that cannot be overlooked is the time factor; whereas they are regarded as expensive, they greatly enhance the production time. Most importantly, the goods that are produced using the current technology are up to standard and conform to the market trends. Technological experts have argued that the emerging technology; computer-based and information-intensive technologies will one day create applications that will enhance performance for small scale manufacturers, just the same way as the CAD/CAM (Mechling, Pierce, & Busbin, 2013).
Hypothesis.
Indeed, the lack of advanced manufacturing technologies affect companies and their employees. A company that is not able to produce goods using the current technology is doomed to failure; due to loses, employee turnover and stiff competition (Riggs & Backer, 2014). Product quality can only be improved through advanced manufacturing technologies, the traditional ones cannot be able to implement any meaningful improvement. Still on the advantages of adopting the most advanced technologies in manufacturing, production line can be easily maintained using a single computer, thanks to technology, that in its basic terms saves time (Schroeder, Gopinath, & Congden, 2011).
Employees who are subjected to traditional methods of production are quite demoralized, explaining the reason why there is high turnover from companies that have not embraced technology. With the modern technology, a company can produce several items using the same production line that is quite advantageous to the manufacturers (Schroeder, Gopinath, & Congden, 2011).
References.
Voss, C.A., (2012). Managing New Manufacturing Technologies, Operations Management
Association. Michigan State University Press, Michigan State University, Michigan,
United States of America.
Schroeder, D.M., Gopinath, C., & Congden, S.W., (2011). New Technology and the Small
Manufacturer. Panacea or Plague? Journal of Small Business Management.
Riggs & Backer, (2014). Operations Management and Financial Performance. Entrepreneurship
Theory and Practice Journal.
Mechling, G.W., Pierce, J.W., & Busbin, J.W., (2013). Exploiting AMT in Small Manufacturing
Firms for Global Competitiveness. International Journal of Operations and Productions
Management.
Bessant, J., & Gordon, J.R.M., (2012). Flexibility in Manufacturing Systems OMEGA. The
International Journal of Management Science.
Helfgott, R.B., (2010). Computerized Manufacturing and Human Resources. Innovation through
Employee Involvement. Lexington Press, Lexington, United States of America.
Jelinek, M., & Goldhar, J., (2013). The Interface between Strategy and Manufacturing
Technology. Columbia Journal of World Business.
