ZIMSEC O Level · Design and Technology · Form 3, Form 4
Scales of production
- One-off (job) production: a single product made to order.
- Batch production: a set quantity of identical products.
- Mass production: large numbers on production lines.
Manufacturing aids
Jigs, templates, moulds and CAD/CAM machines (laser cutters, CNC routers, 3D printers) improve accuracy and speed.
Quality
Quality control checks products against tolerances; quality assurance builds quality into every stage.
Sustainability: the 6 Rs
Reduce (use less material), reuse, recycle, repair, rethink (design differently) and refuse (avoid harmful materials).
- Use renewable and local materials.
- Design for disassembly and repair.
- Reduce energy use and waste.
Technology and society
Appropriate technology suits local needs and resources – for example, treadle pumps, solar dryers, fuel-efficient stoves and bicycle-powered machines. Consider the effects of products on people, jobs and the environment.
Exam tip: In evaluation questions, mention both the benefits and the environmental costs of a product.
Check yourself
- Name the six Rs of sustainability.
- Give one example of appropriate technology in rural Zimbabwe.
- What is a jig used for?
Show answers
- Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, rethink, refuse.
- Any one: treadle pump, solar dryer, fuel-efficient stove, biogas digester, bicycle-powered grinder.
- To hold work and guide tools so identical parts are made accurately.
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