Industry Study

What is the Industry Study?

According to the Board of Studies Syllabus the Industry study is when the “Students will undertake a broad study of industry related to the specific business studied in the Preliminary course”.

It will allow the students to study 6 major areas of a business in the industry which includes:

1. Historical Developments2. Structural Considerations3. Technical Considerations4. Environmental and Sociological Considerations5. Personnel Issues6. Workplace Health and Safety

How do we begin?When starting this Industry study report into the business of choice within the timber industry, a report outline must be developed to cover the following aspects:

•Name of the Business•Business contact details (Address, Phone Number, Email Address and Web Address)•Outline of the contact you have had with the business, with supporting evidence.•Report Components Outline

What is the product/service this business offers?What organisation structure does the business use? Why does the business

prefer this structure? What quality control technique does the business use?What are the WHS concerns for this business?What environmental strategies does this business use?What are two technical factors that impact on the business?What emerging technologies does the business use or plan to use?

1. What is Historical DevelopmentsThe Board of Studies note that in Historical Developments students will learn about The significant developments that have occurred in the focus area industry and how they have impacted on the industry as a whole including:

•Manufacturing processes

•Materials

•Work practices

Students will then learn to recognise how historical developments and practices have moulded the industry both positively and negatively

1. Historical Developments Activity• Manufacturing processes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_control

• Materials http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineered_wood

• Work practiceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_line

Research one of these areas of historical developments in the timber industry. Using either the example provided or you own example, write a discussion about the particular historical development example using the correct discussion format, and discuss the positives and negatives that the historical development has had on the timber industry.

2. What is Structural ConsiderationsWithin the Industry Study topic, the structural considerations area looks into the business concerns that relate to the operation of the company. There are 6 key parts that are studied within this area of the Industry Study topic which are:

1. Organisation (Finances)2. Management (Roles and Levels) 3. Marketing and Advertising 4. Production and Efficiency 5. Restructuring 6. Quality Control

Check out HSC Online for information on any of these factorshttp://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/

2. What is Structural ConsiderationsWithin this area students will learn to: • identify the organisation and structure of businesses related to

the specific industry

• identify structural factors/considerations that affect production, efficiency and quality control within the business studied

Structural Considerations Activities1. Develop systems flow chart of a Kitchen Manufacturing business

which has the following job titles – Director, Site Manager, Factory Manager, Apprentices, Office Personnel, CNC Operators, Secretary, CAD Technician, Sub Contractors (Kitchen Installers), Assembly Technician.

2. Write a paragraph that indicates the possible quality control measures that could be implemented at a furniture manufacturing company to ensure that high quality construction is being completed.

3. Develop a Flow chart to visually display the possible process carried out by a Kitchen Manufacturing company from the design of the kitchen to the installation of the kitchen.

3. What is Technical ConsiderationsWithin the Industry Study topic of Industrial Technology Timber, the third section of technical considerations allows the student to conduct research and concentrate on the technical factors and processes that affect the business directly in regards to production and how they make what they make. This section has nothing to do with the business side of the company but the manufacturing/production side of the company. The board of studies state that student will in this section learn to describe and evaluate the significance various technical factors/considerations have in efficency and viability of the business studied. There are 5 main areas of concentration in this section which are:

1. Mechanisation2. Specialisation/Generalisation3. Mass Production4. Automation5. New and Emerging Technologies

3. What is Technical ConsiderationsWhat do these words mean:

1. Mechanisation - To replace manual processes with machines2. Specialisation/Generalisation - To produce only one type of product or

service3. Mass Production - Mass production is the large-scale production of goods

in factories.4. Automation - The computer control of machine processes5. New and emerging Technologies – Technology that is new to the market

or currently still in developmentCheck out HSC Online for information on any of these factors

http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/

3. Technical Considerations Activities1. Discuss the technical considerations on a timber industry business

using examples, and evaluate the significance it has on the efficiency and the viability of it using a table

2. Write a small report on the impact of new and emerging technologies on a business and how they affect society and the environment. Be sure to include positives and negatives, and discuss the impact on the business in relation to mechanisation, specialisation/generalisation, mass production and automation

Making all these links between this section and other sections of the Industry Study unit will allow you to see the relation between

them all and is good practice for your own report

4. What is Environmental and Sociological Considerations

The Environmental and Sociological considerations of a business are important in assessing how the business impacts both positively and negatively on the environment and society. This section looks at a range of areas including:

• Alternative Resources – Power, Material, Processes, Limitations• Recycling and Re-using• Waste Management and Minimisation• Pollution• Sustainable Development• Rehabilitation of Commercial Sites• Legislative requirements – Local, State, Federal, Environmental Studies• Location – Land costs and availabilities, Transportation facilities, Workforce,

Impact of surrounding population, Resource availability, Geographical Factors, Waste Management.

Check out HSC Online for information on any of these factorshttp://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/

4. Environmental and Sociological Considerations Activities

1. Brainstorm some Environmental considerations of a Kitchen Manufacturing company. Consider power methods, materials used, and processes for mass production.

2. Discussion on methods of recycling used in the school and its similarities in the industry

3. Read Government Legislations: Federal

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/about-us/legislation

State http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/environlegiscompliance.htm

Local (Penrith)http://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/Our-Services/Planning-and-Development/Planning-and-Zoning/Local-Planning-Documents/Local-Environmental-Plans/

4. Develop a table on location factors and their impact on the environment and society

5. Discuss about how the location factors affect the viability and organisation of industry

5. What is Personnel IssuesPersonnel Issues is the fifth section of the industry study project. This section focuses on the issues that affect the personnel or employees of the business being researched. The parts of this section that need to be addressed are:

• Industrial Relations – Equity and EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity), Unions, Group negotiated contracts, Individual contracts• Career and training opportunities• Specialisation and Multi-skilling• Roles of Industry Personnel• Work Practices

5. What is Personnel IssuesIndustrial Relations –

Equity and EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) - Equal Employment Opportunity means equal access to jobs and benefits and services for all employees and prospective employees in the workplace. EEO aims to ensure fair and equitable outcomes in all areas of employment which relate to recruitment, selection, access to information, supervision and management.

Equal Employment Opportunity Government Websitehttp://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/Corporate/ll_corporate.nsf/pages/attorney_generals_department_equal_employment_opportunity HSC Online Linkhttp://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/1_5/eeo_issues.html

Unions – An association of people doing the same or similar work or working in the same industry who have come together for their mutual protection and to further their common interests in matters connected with their work

HSC Online Linkhttp://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/unions/unions.html

Group negotiated contracts - Employment contracts negotiated by a group of employees in regards to awards, benefits and pay

Individual contracts - Employment contracts negotiated by a individual employee in regards to awards, benefits and pay

5. What is Personnel IssuesCareer and training opportunities – Employees need to develop their skills and knowledge over time so that keep up to date with change within the industry.

Specialisation – is where an employee’s role or focus is on a particular area of a business. This is more common in larger businesses where the business can afford to hire more specialised workers.

Multi-skilling - is where labour organisation is structured so that workers possess a range of skills appropriate for use on a project or within an organisation.HSC Online Linkhttp://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/2530/Multiskilling.html

Roles of Industry Personnel – this is in regards to the various roles of employees within a business and the various responsibilities they have for ensuring that the business functions correctly.

Work Practices - this refers to the practices that the employees have throughout their day to day roles and the rights that protect and ensuring them to retain these.

Check out HSC Online for information on any of these factorshttp://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/

6. What is Workplace Health and SafetyWorkplace Health and Safety (WHS) is the final section of the Industry Study report. This section focuses on the health and safety factors of a business in the timber industry. The various points of this final part includes:

• Government Legislation• Industry Requirements – Standards, Policing, Prosecution• Risk Assessment• Safety Training and Human Factors• Workplace Culture• WHS Communication

6. What is Workplace Health and SafetyWorkplace Health and Safety (WHS) is the act or legislation that sets out the legal obligations that must be complied with to provide for the health and safety of workers. The work health and safety (WHS) laws commenced nationally and in NSW on 1 January 2012. The WHS laws replaced the occupational health and safety (OHS) laws.

Government Legislation – The Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Act is the legislation that protects and ensures the safety of all people in the workplace. Below are some sites that discuss and elaborate on this Act.• http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/whs-information/pages/whs-information• http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/lawpolicy/acts-and-regulations/work-health-and-safety-l

egislation/Pages/default.aspx

• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/3189/index.htm

Industry Requirements – Standards, Policing, Prosecution – Standards and Legislation are directed from the governments, and they set out how businesses work and design policies in regards to WHS. The governments police these laws and standards at a state level through their organisations such as workcover in NSW, and if they uncover that certain aspects aren’t being followed they have jurisdiction to fine and prosecute the responsible parties involved in the matter. • http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/2467/Industry_Standards.html

6. What is Workplace Health and Safety

Risk Assessment – Risk is the probability of a hazard posing harm to someone. Hazards could be physical, chemical, fire, biological, etc. Risk Assessment is the evaluation of the likelihood of the risk occurring and causing harm, and lowering the chance of the risk occurring by installing other measures to counter it.

Safety Training and Human Factors – Safety training is essential for WHS as it ensures that both the employers and employees are equip with the latest knowledge/understanding of health and safety issues/requirements in their line of work. Safety training could include training in operation of machinery and plant, First Aid training, fire evacuation procedures, etc. Human factors are the aspects of human interactions with other elements in the workplace including the concerns that arise in regards to WHS.

• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/1_2/1.2.html

6. What is Workplace Health and Safety

Workplace Culture – the culture of every workplace may differ between each, but it is an essential factor that determines the way in which WHS is conducted and followed. The culture is affected by the people who work within it, their beliefs in regards to WHS and how they follow and manage these factors in order to ensure the safety of all in the workplace.

• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/3373/work_culture.htm

WHS Communication – is the way in which safety requirements governed by the WHS Act are communicated in the workplace, to therefore lower the potential risk or harm to someone by a hazard. Examples of communication include Signage (See link below), meetings, emails, site inductions, logbooks, MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), JSA (Job Safety Analysis), etc.

• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/3376/signage.htm

Industry Study Report Conclusion

When you complete the 6 sections of the Industry Study Report, conclude the report through the Evaluation. In the evaluation section remember to evaluate all your findings and summarise the main aspects of why you believe your business is successful.

All key points that were covered in your report should be cited together, and stated why they impact upon the business as a whole.

Overall I hope this presentation has been useful in developing an understanding for how this report should be written, what the key parts and terms refer to, and establish useful links and resources to further enhance your knowledge and understanding of the Industry Study Topic.

Check out HSC Online for further information on the many parts contained within the Industry Study Report

http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/