Economic And Technological Factors In Industrial Automation

Abstract

Many businesses are not persuaded that advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) will bring large gains in manufacturing efficiency. The businesses, however, which rely upon traditional financial decision tools may be in error due to their restrictive application of justification analyses which indicate that investment in AMT is unprofitable. This study analyzes the characteristics of AMT and appropriate justification techniques in an effort to explain the paradox between the promise of AMT and impression of AMT in the business world. The discussion reviews the factors in the AMT process. Journal articles and survey results--a questionnaire survey conducted by the author in England in November 1986 to gauge current corporate attitudes and actions about AMT--are the primary bases for discussion.