Technological changes: the effects on a company structure and on the involved people

Deals with the effects of a technological change on an existing company. The study originates from the implementation of a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system in a steel rolling mill. We have analysed the system as it exists today and considered the various changes that would be required to be made in the company and the effect that these changes would have on the employees of the company. The study is divided into three main phases. In the first phase, we analysed the operations of the company, its culture, and the characteristics of the employees in the company. In the second phase, we envisaged the changes to be made on the existing system to bring it under the new CIM philosophy and troubleshoot the various problems that might arise while moving from the current system to the prospect CIM system. In the third phase, we suggested the implementation plan for the proposed system after considering the different issues and difficulties that may come up during the transition. The optimisation of the company resources and the increase of company productivity and profitability under the CIM system are thoroughly discussed