Industrial Production All about Computer Aided Design (CAD) & Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM)

Uses of Computer Aided Design (CAD) Paint/draw programs – e.g. annotating sketches, artwork, nets for packaging Scanner – e.g. images from food packaging Excel/databases – e.g. graphs for questionnaires, spreadsheets to calculate cost, star profiles Clipart – e.g. mood boards Digital cameras – e.g. photos of food Word processing – e.g. creating questionnaires, tables, spider diagrams, charts Desktop publishing – e.g. designing questionnaires/interviews Internet – e.g. to carry out research on special diets, existing products, recipe ideas – e.g. sending photos, reports Nutrition programs – e.g. to calculate nutritional analysis of food products

Advantages of CAD Gives greater accuracy Gives a professional finish Quick completion of tasks Designs can be sent directly to manufacturing stage Recipes can be used without waste through trials Colours & graphics can be tried out & best ones chosen

Uses of Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) Sorting & grading of raw materials i.e. fruit & vegetables Weighing out the product before packaging Sealing the packaging Controlling the finish of products i.e. degree of brownness of bread Checking & maintaining temperatures Monitoring pH levels – important to the shelf life & processing of some products Metal detecting Production rate Flow rates Moisture content

Advantages of CAM Repetitive tasks can be carried out quickly Production is standardised as processes are repeated with accuracy & precision aiding quality control Productivity is increased as more products can be produced at speed to lower costs Increased reliability of finished products as below standard products are automatically rejected aiding quality assurance High standard of packaging can be produced consistently Production schedules such as HACCP & stock control are dealt with easily

Effects of using CAM Staff need to be trained to operate computerised equipment Less staff would be needed Visual checks by staff are still needed Safety is increased due to equipment carrying out some or all cutting processes Engineers are required Computer systems may break down If initial design is not correct or systems are incorrectly programmed a large cost could be incurred

Key Terms Computer Aided Design (CAD) – used for designing during food production Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) – using computers to control machinery during food production Quality Assurance – a system of procedures for making safe, quality products Quality Control – systems for checking the quality during production or at the end of production HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point – a food safety based on the prevention of hazards