‘A group of Lower Sixth DT students and DT Award Holders visited the Mini Plant in Oxford. It was a fascinating day out that not only intrigued but also surprised the DT students. We learned how the production and assembly process had become mechanised, leading to a road-ready Mini being rolled out every minute (around 800 a day) and how efficiency was at the heart of the company’s ethos. For example, a recent £1.4 billion investment in the form of over 100 giant robotic arms that were programmed to perform one repetitive function, reduced human error and amazed pupils and staff.
Another favourite of the group was FIDO the dog: an electric four-legged mobile monitor that actively checks for unsafe temperatures and gas leaks, doing the job of a 33-man health and safety team. This made us consider the effects of such automation on employment.
Unfortunately, we did not see him around the warehouse, much to our disappointment. In the end, it was a wonderfully informative day out and put into perspective what design and technology can achieve on an industrial scale outside the classroom.’
Freya
(Fourth Form, Queen Anne)
