New & Emerging Technologies

Market pull and technology push

Products are developed as a result of a need or want, or through developments in technology.

• Market pull — a new product or a revitalised one is developed as a result of market demand. Consumers want upgraded products with improved functionality.
• Technology push — developments in technology and materials, components and manufacturing can lead to new products being developed. In electronics, smaller components can be put into a wider range of products, e.g. wearable technology.

Consumer choice — designers and manufacturers have to be sure there is a need from consumers for a specific new product to ensure it is successful. Technology often drives consumer choice.

Product Life Cycle

The four stages of a Product Life Cycle are:

1. Introduction — product launched onto market
2. Growth — sales steadily increase
3. Maturity — sales reach their peak
4. Decline — sales drop off

• The product life cycle is a marketing tool to judge when to increase or stop manufacture, or replace a product with a new or revitalised one.
• Obsolescence is when a product no longer sells or only sells at a discounted rate — it is no longer desired.
• Manufacturers can build in obsolescence: they intentionally replace a product with an upgraded or new product in a set time frame. Some products are not meant to last.

Global production — effects on culture and people

Manufacturing affects society and people’s moral and ethical beliefs.

• Global manufacturing gives consumers a greater choice but at a cost to the environment and jobs in Western societies.
• Communication technology and the internet facilitates globalisation and increases awareness of other cultures. People are better connected.
• Globalisation drives down prices for products but can lead to exploitation of people in developing countries.

Legislation — BSI and ISO standards

Products must meet safety and quality standards:

• BSI (British Standards Institution) sets standards for products sold in the UK. Products meeting BSI standards carry the Kitemark.
• ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) sets international standards for products and processes, ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency worldwide.

Consumer rights and protection

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that all goods must be of a satisfactory standard, as described and seen when purchased, and fit for purpose.

• The law covers poor service, faulty and counterfeit goods, contracts and problems with builders (rogue traders).
• This law also covers online purchases, including digital downloads.
• You are entitled to a refund or repair if goods or services do not meet expectations or expected standards (in the case of faulty goods).
• Trade Descriptions Act — it is illegal to apply a false description to goods which mislead consumers.

Moral and ethical factors in manufacturing

• Not everyone in the manufacturing industry is treated fairly. Profit often comes before workers’ wellbeing, with many being exploited, including children, or they work in poor conditions.
• These businesses do not reveal manufacturing costs as it might reveal poor wages for workers.
• Some manufacturers take a more ethical approach and treat workers fairly with decent wages and working conditions.
• Socially responsible businesses also support environmental causes and openly disclose costs.

Social, cultural, economic and environmental responsibilities

Designers and manufacturers have a duty to ensure that their decisions do not infringe certain codes and laws.

• Social — products must not have an unforeseen side effect on a group of people.
• Cultural — ensuring that a product is acceptable and not offensive for a specific group.
• Economic — ensuring that financial decision making is good for the product. This could relate to material selection, profit margins, running costs or energy efficiency.
• Environmental — recently, a lot of legislation and laws have been passed to enforce certain conditions. Many manufacturers now have to comply with targets on lowering CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions.

Worker exploitation

Different countries have different laws about employment for workers. Sometimes workers can be exposed to unfair working conditions including poor or unfair levels of payment. This includes child labour.

Sustainability

Manufacturers are increasingly using more sustainable approaches in product design — meeting today’s needs without compromising future needs:

• Using recycled materials or reducing the amount used
• Using renewable sources for energy or using less energy
• Extending product life: increasing product efficiency; ease of repair; impact on disposal; potential recyclability

New or emerging materials, manufacturing methods or energy sources can often provide opportunities for greener products. This could be a more eco-friendly material or a self-repairing material — for example, an inner tube in a tyre that contains a sticky liquid that hardens when it contacts air, a perfect cure for punctures.

CAD/CAM — advantages and disadvantages

CAD (Computer-Aided Design)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Quality of design work is improved through CAD packages	Designers need to be trained to use CAD packages
3D options, virtual reality, professional presentations	Initial ideas are often better presented by hand
Cloud-based technology allows collaboration	Software can be expensive

CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacture)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Ideal for producing large volumes of identical products of equal quality	Machinery can be expensive
More efficient system	Needs regular maintenance
Consistent quality output	Can lead to job losses