|
|  |
|
|
|
| |
| Feb 19, 2010 6:20 pm |
|
Economic Issues |
Ken Hilving
| |
Each year, we get better at automating production. The product is incidental to this. Design work is primarily CAD, reducing the time frames, expanding the knowledge base, and shortening the cycle from concept to production. Production takes ever greater advantage of CAM, insuring accuracy and consistency of the work, and allowing in many cases a "lights out" factory. Communications and process controls improve the quality and consistency of raw materials, arriving as they are needed.
In services, these same principals allow customers to select goods, have totals computed, and make payment without ever dealing with a salesperson. Inventories are kept current, stock management is automated. Use online sales, and the process is almost a lights out operation for the retailer.
Banks have almost done away with tellers between ATM's, direct deposit, and online banking.
Much of the medical services could follow the same path. Few tests actually require medical staff to perform, and outside of the emotional value of human contact.
The use of pilots in air transportation is more about perception than need. The same could be done with most other transportation, except for the emotional need for "someone driving".
We could go on, but the point is that a great deal of what used to be work is or could be done faster and better thanks to technology.
I have suggested before that we have five currencies - time, money, security, knowledge, and prestige. Our economic systems are primarily based on one currency - money. Today, we an incredible wealth of time as computers and machines do the work. Today, we have greater security in our products thanks again in large measure to machines and computers. Our access to knowledge has never been greater. We are, in general, the richest generation of humanity in time, security, and knowledge.
Ironically, our money based economy creates a social condition where our wealth of time has come from a lack of needed work. Lack of work means a lack of money, which means a lack of personal security. Yet all of our technical advances are increasing our wealth of time and reducing our ability to work. Meanwhile, money continues to concentrate with a few who control production. Equally ironic, that money and production control means its value is fading.
What began as a way of expanding the work output to overcome labor shortages has now replaced the work output of a labor surplus.
Not a rant, not a solution, just an observation. We are on the verge of something new, or we will tear it all down and start over. Time to rethink objectives and requirements?Private Reply to Ken Hilving (new win) |
|
| |
|
