Social Science Research on CAD/CAM : Results of a First European Workshop

Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) are but two of the more recent examples of computer applications in domains previously dominated by human labour. The use of computers in such areas has increasingly attracted social science research. There are several reasons one could suggest for this, not least of them being the simple fact that public money is being provided for such research. Of course, some of the interest may be due to the wish to prove that technology is being used to inhuman ends, but undoubtedly there is also some degree of fascination involved. Can you really do all the things with computers that people claim you can? There is certainly satisfaction to be had from smugly pointing out its shortcomings, but many of the few sociologists in our own organisation are also among the most avid users of modern technology. Needless to say, they also belong to the most critical users of the technology! A new strain of motivation for social science research which appears to be gaining significance, is the desire to "re-direct" technology, or at least - and probably more realistically - to playa part in shaping future technology . The entire range of motives may be recognised in the collection of papers contained in this volume. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Editor’s Introduction: A Personal History of the European CAD/CAM Social Studies Network....Pages 1-8 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 CAD/CAM and Social Science in Scandinavia....Pages 10-26 Social Science Research on CAD/CAM in the UK....Pages 27-35 Selected Results from German Language Studies in the Social Sciences on the Effects of CAD-Techniques....Pages 36-47 CAD Applications in Italy — A Review....Pages 48-54 The Hungarian CAD/CAM Scene....Pages 55-57 Computer Aided Design in Switzerland....Pages 58-60 Notes on Other Countries....Pages 61-62 Front Matter....Pages 63-65 Tacit Knowledge Versus System Knowledge....Pages 66-86 Selected Hardware and Software Criteria for a Comfortable CAD System....Pages 87-90 CAD as Mental Labour a Theoretical Approach and Some Practical Consequences....Pages 91-103 CAD/CAE: Analysis of Technological Innovation with Special Attention for the Consequences as to the Quantity and Quality of Labour....Pages 104-113 Psychosocial Factors in CAD/CAM Research and Development Activities....Pages 114-118 Front Matter....Pages 119-120 Prior Knowledge and Learning in Computer Aided Tasks....Pages 121-132 Management Strategies for the Introduction and Control of Interactive Computer Graphics Systems....Pages 133-143 Decision-Making on CAD in Consulting Firms in Denmark....Pages 144-148 New Technology in Vocational Training, Models and Regulations....Pages 149-157 Conception of CAD/CAM Training for Technical Draughtsmen in a Model Experiment....Pages 158-166 Front Matter....Pages 167-169 Alternatives for the Integration of Cad/Cam....Pages 170-174 Integrated CAD/CAM-Systems and Organizational Latitudes on the Shop Floor — Initial Findings and Hypotheses....Pages 175-183 Front Matter....Pages 167-169 Taylorism and CAD/CAM. Remarks on the Potential Impact of New Technologies in Design and Production Planning and on a Paradigm Switch in Industrial Sociology....Pages 184-194 Organizational Alternatives in the Integration of CAD/CAM....Pages 195-204 CAD/CAM Integration: Flexible Manufacturing Systems in the U.K....Pages 205-218 The Organizational Impact of CAD in Italian Firms — Main Problems and Key Factors for Success....Pages 219-227 CAD in Petro-Chemical Plant Design. The Development of CAD within Different Organizations and their Consequences for the Organization and Task Structure....Pages 228-242 Front Matter....Pages 243-243 CAD/CAM: Why, When, How? Some Examples in the French Industry....Pages 244-248 Social Effects in the Relationship Between Users and Suppliers of CAD/CAM Systems in Hungary....Pages 249-253 Front Matter....Pages 255-256 Utilization of Research Results by the Employees....Pages 257-266 How do we Feed our Findings Back into the Design Process?....Pages 267-274 For a More Comprehensive View of CAD....Pages 275-285 Consequences on the Working Conditions on Site with Increased use of CAD/CAM in Construction....Pages 286-289 This volume collects papers on topics covering the whole range of social science research on Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM). The book comprises six sections: - National CAD/CAM scenes; - The nature of design and the effects of CAD/CAM; - Implementation of CAD/CAM and training; - Organizational effects of CAD/CAM and their integration; - The development of CAD/CAM systems; - Utilization of results and cooperation between the social sciences and other disciplines. The volume includes contributions from all the major ongoing and completed projects in the field throughout Europe and spans a wide variety of approaches. The papers are published here for the first time and in some cases they represent the only widely available documentation on a project. The collection is a mine of information for researchers embarking on research into similar or related topics. Beside providing material on methodology and critical factors for the success of CAD/CAM applications, insight is provided into the essence and the framework of CAD/CAM. Prospective researchers are given the means to define and evaluate new projects and the information necessary to form cooperative relationships with established researchers.