Understanding Economic Systems, Business, and Manufacturing

Economic Systems

Capitalist: Free market enterprise, private factors of production, and wage labor.

Socialist: No free enterprise market, state factors of production, and wage labor.

Mixed: Free enterprise market, mixed factors of production, and wage labor.

Basic Laws of the Market

• Anyone can buy or sell goods and services.
• There must be more than one company or individual offering the same goods and services.
• Mobility of production factors is essential.

Types of Markets

Perfect competition, monopoly, or oligopoly.

Business Structures

Legal Form:

• Single: (1 member)
• Sociedad Anonima (SA): (5+ members)
• Limited Liability Company (SL): (2-50 members)
• Civil Society: (2+ members)
• Corporate Society: (5+ members)
• Partnership: (2+ members)
• Limited Partnership: (5+ members)

The Scientific Method

1. Clearly define the problem.
2. Find and select information related to the subject.
3. Establish a hypothesis for the solution of the problem.
4. Test the hypothesis through controlled experiments.
5. Document and file experiment results for validation in similar studies.
6. Draw conclusions about the validity of the solution.
7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 to test other hypotheses.

Software in Manufacturing

CAE: Computer-Aided Engineering

CAM: Computer-Aided Manufacturing

CAPP: Computer-Aided Process Planning

CNC: Computer Numerical Control

CIM: Computer Integrated Manufacturing

Environmental Impacts of Manufacturing

Direct Impacts: Discharges

• Atmosphere: Dust, fumes, odors... Solution: Use suitable filters.
• Water: Toxic wastewater... Solution: Purification.
• Ground: Solid waste disposal... Solution: Controlled discharges.
• Noise: Produced by machines, people... Solution: Soundproofing.
• Vibrations: Machines and vehicles... Solution: Isolation.

Generated: During manufacture, use, and end of life.

Packaging and Containers: Plastic, cardboard, paint, rope, wood... Solution: Minimize, recycle, use biodegradable products, or controlled incineration.

Indirect Waste

Leftover remnants of manufactured products. Solution: Recycling or incineration.

Energy Consumption

Direct Energy: At the factory.

Indirect Energy: In transporting materials and products. Solution: Use machines and vehicles with high energy efficiency.