Uses of ICT in Business

Lesson Objectives To understand the advantages, features and uses of CAM

CAM – Computer Aided Manufacturing The use of computers to control the manufacturing process in some way by controlling manufacturing equipment such as lathes, drills, millers and robots. Many CAM systems are able to take the design produced by the CAD and feed it into the CAM system to make the product or component

Features of CAM packages Takes input from a CAD package and uses the information to produce a set of instructions to produce a new set of instructions to give to the machinery to create a product Used to program and control equipment Products can be made automatically CAM equipment can be reprogrammed to make new products with different dimensions

Advantages of a CAM package Cheaper manufacturing – the process is automatic so costs are reduced Faster time from design to manufacturing – can produce components quickly Better quality products can be made i.e. No human mistakes by CAM Lower wage costs due to very little human involvement means goods can be produced cheaply as wage costs are lower

Advantages of a CAM package Machines can be re programmed to enable them to make new products Can make small quantities of products that would normally be uneconomical i.e.

Examples of CAM Used to manufacture components used in car engines Used in car manufacturing for gear boxes and engines Used to manufacture double glazing windows