Advantages

The advantages of these new computerised technologies are improved productivity and greater profits for businesses.

For example, stock control is much more efficient with computers:

• If a person in the far north of Scotland buys one of the last packets of spaghetti in their local supermarket,
• The moment it is scanned at the checkout, it shows up on the store's inventory as being down by one and almost out of stock.
• The computers holding the stock responsibilities at the head office somewhere in the south of England register they need a new box of Spaghetti sent to that store.
• It sends a message to the computer handling the ordering, which then sends a message to the central warehouse in the Midlands.
• A warehouse robot is sent to the correct warehouse location – all by computer - for a box of spaghetti to be placed on a pallet which is then put on the next delivery truck leaving for the store and is delivered the next day.

This system used to involved many human workers at all different stages for it to work and there would often be delays. Using this streamlined, control system with its automated functions the whole process happens much more quickly and efficiently. As a result the company doesn't risk someone going to a different store for their shopping as their store has run out, and the customer is happy as whenever they go to the supermarket it has what they need.

It is clear what the advantages are for the businesses and the consumer in the automation of factories, however, what about the workers?