Industrial Systems | Geography for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Industrial Systems

• Industrial systems involve inputs, processes, and outputs:
  • Inputs include raw materials, labor, energy, capital, land, and buildings.
  • Processes encompass activities like cutting, sewing, welding, brewing, painting, and steel molding.
  • Outputs consist of finished products, by-products, products for further manufacturing, and waste.
    • Finished products can be cars, clothing, beer, shoes, etc.
    • By-products like Marmite can be obtained from beer brewing.
    • Continued manufacturing involves processes like cleaning wool or cotton, weaving material, and producing clothes.
    • Waste is an inevitable byproduct of manufacturing, incurring disposal costs.
• Manufacturing can be categorized as:
  • Heavy industries, exemplified by iron and steel manufacturing, utilize large raw materials to produce substantial items.
  • Light industries, such as computer manufacturing, smartphone assembly, clothing production, and micro-brewing, deal with smaller, more intricate products.

• Certain sectors require extensive processing, which can result in significant pollution levels.
  
• Industries are interconnected, often relying on multiple sectors to create their products. For example, a car manufacturing industry might require inputs from sectors like metal fabrication, electronics, and plastics to produce vehicles.
  

High-Tech Industry

• Fastest growing industry globally, with a significant presence in most More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs) and Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs).
• Emphasizes research and development to stay competitive in the market.
• Utilizes advanced technologies such as computer automation in manufacturing processes.
• Produces sophisticated items like precision instruments, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology products, mobile phones, and vaccines.