IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES ON MANUFACTURING

The article defines and describes the impacts of Information Technolog ies on manufacturing, where manufacturing is understood as the process of producing the product capabilities according to customer needs, co vering all the steps in the value adding chain. The first impact descr ibes changes in society and industry with a focus on employment and in dustrial relations. The second impact is on dynamics of technological and business processes by usage of simulation as an interdisciplinary acceleration tool. The third impact deals with both electronics and so ftware as value adding core elements of products. A fourth impact may be identified on classic products, where sensor technologies speed up production processes with a significant quality enhancement. Finally t he impact of information technology on the human user itself is addres sed. Cultural change is shown to be necessary and inevitable to tackle the future economical risks of the information age.