Use of Machineries: Advantages and Disadvantages | Production | Economics

In this article we will discuss about the advantages and disadvantages of use of machineries in production.

Advantages of the Use of Machineries:

There are several advantages in the use of machineries — the chief of which are the following:

(a) Large-scale production of goods owing to the power of machines to multiply products (e.g., mass production of different varieties of goods in modern factories);

(b) Great relief to labourers owing to lessening of pain and strain on human muscles (e.g., the use of mechanised cranes for loading and unload­ing);

(c) Considerable increase in the skill and productivity of labourers (e.g., higher efficiency of farm workers working with tractors and other mecha­nised implements);

(d) Shorter period of production because of quick-yielding power of machines;

(e) Multiplication 6f goods of the same standard and of the same precision (e.g., multiplication of blades, matches, cigarettes, radio sets, electronic goods, wrist-watches, etc. of the same standard);

(f) Low cost of production and consequent low prices of standardised goods manufactured with the help of machines;

(g) Increase of intelligence and alertness of labourers owing to constant working with machines; and

(h) Correct calculation of different quantities with the help of computers and other electronic appliances.

Disadvantages of the Use of Machineries:

But, the use of machinery has some disadvantages too:

(a) Dullness and monotony in work created by machine;

(b) Loss of initiative of labourers who become a part of, and a slave to, machines;

(c) Increase of the risk of work owing to the possibility of frequent accident;

(d) Growth of the factory system with all its evil consequences {e.g., overcrowding, tantalising machine-noises, air pollution, etc.);

(e) Fear of unemployment in the short run owing to the introduction of labour-saving machines; and,

(f) Reduction of employment opportunities of a country’s growing labour force.

Conclusion:

Despite these disadvantages, machines are now widely used in production on account of their obvious advantages. It is not also true that machinery creates unemployment in the long run. Past experience has shown that the use of machines creates a larger volume of employment in the long run owing to the need for larger production to meet the increased demand for goods and for manufacturing machine on a large scale in future.