Pre-requisite: Recommended 70445
The design and organisation of methods used in manufacturing is of fundamental importance to a manufacturing firm. Methods may also be termed the management of a process, the way in which physical facilities are arranged to provide an environment which is inductive to efficient, fast transformation. A measure of this efficiency is the time in which the transformation occurs. Time being one of the critical factors involved in the measurement of productivity. The transformation process requires an exact knowledge of the size, shape and finish desired on the finished product. In manufacturing, the ability to measure accurately both size and form, is of paramount importance to the quality and performance of the end product. Because of the wide diversity of types of processes, materials and products associated with manufacturing, the management function of a firm must be highly organised, efficient and responsive to provide an environment capable of meeting the demands and needs of its customers. Engineers must keep abreast with advancing production and operations techniques to ensure that their products remain competitive. Computer technology has made tremendous inroads into the manufacturing scene over the past decade and firms must incorporate computer monitoring and control in their operations if they are to remain in today's manufacturing arena.