Man Versus Machine

When it comes to industry, one basic question has hung over the heads of ownership and employees alike for decades; is it better to use the labour of individuals or the power of equipment to accomplish production tasks? This question is one that comes up in virtually every industry there is, whether one is talking about a company who designs compression lugs or one which builds pre-fabricated homes.

Because the question of man or machine power is so ubiquitous throughout the industrial world, we have decided to publish a series of articles taking a look at different points of the industrial age old debate. The articles that we have here are not typical run of the mill essays on the subject, either. Yes, we will deal with issues such as the cost effectiveness (for example, is an on demand hot water heater manufactured using machine fabricated parts cheaper than one assembled by hand). However, we have also included articles dealing with intangible parts of the question, such as both option's impact on the environment.

We think you will be intrigued by some of the points that we make in many of these articles, much as we were intrigued as we researched the question for ourselves. For example, in today's high technology driven world, the man versus machine question is being increasingly put aside. Why is this? Quite simply, because most industries have already put aside human labour for mechanical in all areas where it is feasible, and now humans are being hired in an increasingly operational role. Even an automatic strapping machine, for example, needs to have someone who understands how to work it, how to feed it, how to repair it, and how to load it.

This union of man and machine has become apparent in markets other than those which typically fall under industry. For example, new residential developments such as those represented by Toronto Condos are dependent on the marriage not only in their construction, but in day-to-day operation as well. Modern condo living would not be nearly as fun if one had to run up and down stairs every time you wanted to go out; an elevator is an incredibly important machine for any high-rise resident. In this case, human power has been taken out of the equation but nobody really has an issue with it.

Whether we are talking about the sling ropes used for safety by window washers or the plywood used in a residential high-rise building, the question of whether man or machine power should be used has come up with every product. Our series of articles takes a look at this question in greater detail, and we think the points raised will give everyone something to think about.