Light Industry The Thames Corridor Standard Grade Geography The Human Environment Light Industry The Thames Corridor

Introduction The Thames Corridor is located to the west of London between the M4 and M40 motorways. It is a lowland area and includes the university towns of Reading and Oxford.

Location In the last 25 years a great number of light high-technology industries have set up in the area.

The Electronics Industry The Thames Corridor is one of the most important areas in the UK for electronics. A wide range of goods are researched, designed and made there. Including telecommunications equipment and computers.

Why locate in the Thames Corridor? The M4 and M40 motorways are nearby, which means that goods can be brought in and sent out very quickly. There is a highly skilled workforce (due to local research centres and universities) The area is surrounded by attractive countryside. Heathrow Airport is very close by, making it easy for managers to travel to their company headquarters overseas.

Other High-technology Industries Information technology Defence Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Aerospace Some of these industries have located in science parks

Oxford Science Park

Oxford Science Park High quality environment in which to work Room for expansion Attractively designed Green field site Cheaper land at edge of city Besides main road Links with research centres (eg: Oxford University)

Other light industries As well has high-technology industries, the Thames Corridor can boast a wide range of other light industries. Many companies have set up in in business parks, such as Oxford Business Park.

The Car Industry (1) The oldest example of a light industry in the area is the car industry. Cars have been made in Oxford since 1912.

The Car Industry (2) The car industry is an assembly industry. The different components (doors, windows, engines) are made elsewhere and assembled on an assembly line. Now companies like Honda bring in their components only when they are needed. This is called just-in-time (JIT) production.

The Car Industry (3) just-in-time (JIT) production Advantages Disadvantages It saves the company the cost of storing components and it means they do not need such a large factory. Assembly plants have to get the components that it needs very quickly and reliably.

Your turn Read page 78 – 81. Answer either the F, G or C questions on page 76, 77 or 82.