← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Advantages and disadvantages of automation in industry

Weigh what a factory gains (nonstop work, steady quality, safety) against its costs (set-up cost, job losses, breakdowns), link points to the scenario, then conclude.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 6.1 Automated Systems — Module 44

Understanding Advantages and disadvantages of automation in industry in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: Safety around hazards is an advantage, and the answer links it to details of the plant. A good answer ends with a short conclusion that weighs the advantages against the disadvantages. Robots do not need breaks, so continuous production is a real advantage. Automated equipment is expensive to buy and install, so it is a disadvantage. A machine repeats the same action precisely, giving consistent quality. Automated systems struggle with unexpected situations, so this is not an advantage. Job losses are a key drawback of automation. Robots do not get tired, so this would not be an accurate point. A breakdown can stop the entire production line and cause lost output. It does not mean the job is taken over automatically.

Common mistakes: Robots working nonstop produce robots multiplied by hours, not added. It should be output ← robots * hoursPerDay. The robot should replace workers when the gas level is dangerously high, so the test should be gasLevel > 50, not < 50.

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Learning

Duo

A car factory uses welding robots that run 24 hours a day. Which is a valid ADVANTAGE to write in an exam answer?

The robots are cheap to buy, so the factory spends very little at the startThe robots can keep production going nonstop, so more cars are built each day

Matches

Automation is good because it is good for factories.

↓

This is a vague answer that gives no reason and is not linked to the factory in the question.

Applying

Meanings

Term

advantages vs disadvantages

Meaning

Weigh what a factory gains (nonstop work, steady quality, safety) against its costs (set-up cost, job losses, breakdowns), link points to the scenario, then conclude.

Practice

Advantage: robot arms weld nonstop, so the car plant makes more cars each day.

Testing

Gaps

Advantage: robots weld all day

Check Answer

Spots

2hoursPerDay ← 24

3output ← robots + hoursPerDay

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Quick Questions

1. A car factory uses welding robots that run 24 hours a day. Which is a valid ADVANTAGE to write in an exam answer?

A. The robots are cheap to buy, so the factory spends very little at the start

B. The robots can keep production going nonstop, so more cars are built each day ✓

Robots do not need breaks, so continuous production is a real advantage. Automated equipment is expensive to buy and install, so it is a disadvantage.

2. A bottling plant installs a filling machine that puts exactly 500 ml in every bottle. Which point links to the scenario?

A. The machine can decide what to do if the bottles are an unexpected shape

B. Every bottle is filled to the same level, so quality is consistent ✓

A machine repeats the same action precisely, giving consistent quality. Automated systems struggle with unexpected situations, so this is not an advantage.

3. A chemical plant uses robots to handle toxic liquids. Which is the best advantage to write?

A. Workers stay away from the dangerous chemicals, so there are fewer injuries ✓

B. The factory needs no workers at all, so nothing can ever go wrong

Safety around hazards is the advantage. Saying nothing can go wrong is wrong, as machines can break down and humans still need to supervise.

4. A toy factory replaces 40 assembly workers with robot arms. Which is a valid DISADVANTAGE?

A. Many workers may lose their jobs and need retraining ✓

B. The robot arms will get tired and need to rest every few hours

Job losses are a key drawback of automation. Robots do not get tired, so this would not be an accurate point.

5. A biscuit factory has one automated production line. The conveyor belt motor fails. Which statement best describes the drawback?

A. The whole line stops until it is repaired, so no biscuits are made ✓

B. The biscuits will automatically be made by the other workers instead

A breakdown can stop the entire production line and cause lost output. It does not mean the job is taken over automatically.

Match the Pairs

Advantage: runs 24 hours a day → Robots on a car assembly line keep producing without breaks, so more cars are made each day.

Disadvantage: line stops when a robot fails → One broken machine can halt the whole production line, so output and money are lost until it is repaired.

Link an advantage to the scenario: robots handle dangerous tasks so workers are not hurt → Advantage: robots weld in the toxic fumes, so no workers are at risk

Finish with a short conclusion that weighs both sides → Conclusion: the plant gains more than it loses, so automation is worth it

Automation is good because it is good for factories. → This is a vague answer that gives no reason and is not linked to the factory in the question.

Only advantages: robots never make mistakes and cost nothing. → It ignores the disadvantages, such as set-up cost, job losses and breakdowns, and the claims are wrong.

Key Term

advantages vs disadvantages

Weigh what a factory gains (nonstop work, steady quality, safety) against its costs (set-up cost, job losses, breakdowns), link points to the scenario, then conclude.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Advantage: robots weld continuously all day

Hint: Type the adverb meaning without stopping, which is why a plant's output stays high.

2. Advantage: every part has consistent quality

Hint: Type the adjective meaning the same each time, with no human variation.

3. Advantage: robots enter hazardous areas

Hint: Type the adjective meaning dangerous, which describes places that are risky for workers.

4. Disadvantage: a breakdown can stop the line

Hint: Type the noun for a machine failing, which halts production in the factory.

5. Conclusion: gains outweigh the set-up cost

Hint: Type the verb meaning are greater than, used when the benefits beat the drawbacks.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A robots ← 4

B hoursPerDay ← 24

C output ← robots + hoursPerDay

D OUTPUT output

Line C — Robots working nonstop produce robots multiplied by hours, not added. It should be output ← robots * hoursPerDay.

Question 2

A gasLevel ← 80

B IF gasLevel < 50 THEN

C OUTPUT "Robot does the job"

D ENDIF

Line B — The robot should replace workers when the gas level is dangerously high, so the test should be gasLevel > 50, not < 50.

Question 3

A robotCost ← 200000

B numRobots ← 5

C total ← robotCost * numRobots

D IF total < 900000 THEN

E OUTPUT "Cost is too high"

F ENDIF

Line D — The set-up cost is a drawback only when it is above the budget. The test should be total > 900000, so the warning prints when the cost is too high.

Question 4

A jobsBefore ← "100"

B jobsAfter ← 40

C lost ← jobsBefore - jobsAfter

D OUTPUT lost

Line A — Putting quotes around 100 makes it a string, so the job losses cannot be calculated by subtraction. It should be jobsBefore ← 100.

Question 5

A WHILE motorFault = TRUE DO

B boxes ← boxes + 1

C ENDWHILE

D OUTPUT "Line stopped"

Line A — The line should keep producing only while there is no fault. The loop condition should be motorFault = FALSE, and a breakdown then stops the line.

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