Industry Study
What is the Industry Study?
According to the Board of Studies Syllabus the Industry study is
when the “Students will undertake a broad study of industry
related to the specific business studied in the Preliminary course”.
It will allow the students to study 6 major areas of a business in
the industry which includes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Historical Developments
Structural Considerations
Technical Considerations
Environmental and Sociological Considerations
Personnel Issues
Workplace Health and Safety
How do we begin?
When starting this Industry study report into the business of choice
within the timber industry, a report outline must be developed to
cover the following aspects:
•Name of the Business
•Business contact details (Address, Phone Number, Email Address and Web Address)
•Outline of the contact you have had with the business, with supporting evidence.
•Report Components Outline
What is the product/service this business offers?
What organisation structure does the business use? Why does the business
prefer this structure?
What quality control technique does the business use?
What are the WHS concerns for this business?
What environmental strategies does this business use?
What are two technical factors that impact on the business?
What emerging technologies does the business use or plan to use?
1. What is Historical Developments
The Board of Studies note that in Historical Developments students will
learn about The significant developments that have occurred in the
focus area industry and how they have impacted on the industry as a
whole including:
•Manufacturing processes
•Materials
•Work practices
Students will then learn to recognise how historical developments and
practices have moulded the industry both positively and negatively
1. Historical Developments Activity
•Manufacturing processes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_control
•Materials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineered_wood
•Work practices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_line
Research one of these areas of historical developments in the timber
industry. Using either the example provided or you own example, write
a discussion about the particular historical development example using
the correct discussion format, and discuss the positives and negatives
that the historical development has had on the timber industry.
2. What is Structural Considerations
Within the Industry Study topic, the structural considerations area
looks into the business concerns that relate to the operation of the
company. There are 6 key parts that are studied within this area of the
Industry Study topic which are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Organisation (Finances)
Management (Roles and Levels)
Marketing and Advertising
Production and Efficiency
Restructuring
Quality Control
Check out HSC Online for information on any of these factors
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/
2. What is Structural Considerations
Within this area students will learn to:
• identify the organisation and structure of businesses related to
the specific industry
• identify structural factors/considerations that affect production,
efficiency and quality control within the business studied
Structural Considerations Activities
1. Develop systems flow chart of a Kitchen Manufacturing business
which has the following job titles – Director, Site Manager, Factory
Manager, Apprentices, Office Personnel, CNC Operators, Secretary,
CAD Technician, Sub Contractors (Kitchen Installers), Assembly
Technician.
2. Write a paragraph that indicates the possible quality control
measures that could be implemented at a furniture manufacturing
company to ensure that high quality construction is being
completed.
3. Develop a Flow chart to visually display the possible process carried
out by a Kitchen Manufacturing company from the design of the
kitchen to the installation of the kitchen.
3. What is Technical Considerations
Within the Industry Study topic of Industrial Technology Timber, the third
section of technical considerations allows the student to conduct research
and concentrate on the technical factors and processes that affect the
business directly in regards to production and how they make what they
make. This section has nothing to do with the business side of the company
but the manufacturing/production side of the company. The board of studies
state that student will in this section learn to describe and evaluate the
significance various technical factors/considerations have in efficency and
viability of the business studied. There are 5 main areas of concentration in
this section which are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mechanisation
Specialisation/Generalisation
Mass Production
Automation
New and Emerging Technologies
3. What is Technical Considerations
What do these words mean:
1. Mechanisation - To replace manual processes with machines
2. Specialisation/Generalisation - To produce only one type of product or
service
3. Mass Production - Mass production is the large-scale production of
goods in factories.
4. Automation - The computer control of machine processes
5. New and emerging Technologies – Technology that is new to the market
or currently still in development
Check out HSC Online for information on any of these factors
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/
3. Technical Considerations Activities
1. Discuss the technical considerations on a timber industry business
using examples, and evaluate the significance it has on the
efficiency and the viability of it using a table
2. Write a small report on the impact of new and emerging
technologies on a business and how they affect society and the
environment. Be sure to include positives and negatives, and
discuss the impact on the business in relation to mechanisation,
specialisation/generalisation, mass production and automation
Making all these links between this section and other sections of the
Industry Study unit will allow you to see the relation between
them all and is good practice for your own report
4. What is Environmental and Sociological
Considerations
The Environmental and Sociological considerations of a business are important in
assessing how the business impacts both positively and negatively on the
environment and society. This section looks at a range of areas including:
• Alternative Resources – Power, Material, Processes, Limitations
• Recycling and Re-using
• Waste Management and Minimisation
• Pollution
• Sustainable Development
• Rehabilitation of Commercial Sites
• Legislative requirements – Local, State, Federal, Environmental Studies
• Location – Land costs and availabilities, Transportation facilities, Workforce,
Impact of surrounding population, Resource availability, Geographical Factors,
Waste Management.
Check out HSC Online for information on any of these factors
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/
4. Environmental and Sociological
Considerations Activities
1.
2.
3.
Brainstorm some Environmental considerations of a Kitchen Manufacturing
company. Consider power methods, materials used, and processes for mass
production.
Discussion on methods of recycling used in the school and its similarities in the
industry
Read Government Legislations:
Federal
http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/about-us/legislation
State
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/environlegiscompliance.htm
Local (Penrith)
http://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/Our-Services/Planning-and-Development/Planning-and-Zoning/Local-PlanningDocuments/Local-Environmental-Plans/
4.
5.
Develop a table on location factors and their impact on the environment and
society
Discuss about how the location factors affect the viability and organisation of
industry
5. What is Personnel Issues
Personnel Issues is the fifth section of the industry study project. This
section focuses on the issues that affect the personnel or employees of
the business being researched. The parts of this section that need to
be addressed are:
• Industrial Relations – Equity and EEO (Equal Employment
Opportunity), Unions, Group negotiated contracts, Individual
contracts
• Career and training opportunities
• Specialisation and Multi-skilling
• Roles of Industry Personnel
• Work Practices
5. What is Personnel Issues
Industrial Relations –
 Equity and EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) - Equal Employment Opportunity means equal
access to jobs and benefits and services for all employees and prospective employees in the
workplace. EEO aims to ensure fair and equitable outcomes in all areas of employment which
relate to recruitment, selection, access to information, supervision and management.
Equal Employment Opportunity Government Website
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/Corporate/ll_corporate.nsf/pages/attorney_generals_depart
ment_equal_employment_opportunity
HSC Online Link
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/1_5/eeo_issues.html

Unions – An association of people doing the same or similar work or working in the same
industry who have come together for their mutual protection and to further their common
interests in matters connected with their work
HSC Online Link
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/unions/unions.html

Group negotiated contracts - Employment contracts negotiated by a group of employees in
regards to awards, benefits and pay

Individual contracts - Employment contracts negotiated by a individual employee in regards to
awards, benefits and pay
5. What is Personnel Issues
Career and training opportunities – Employees need to develop their skills and knowledge over time so
that keep up to date with change within the industry.
Specialisation – is where an employee’s role or focus is on a particular area of a business. This is more
common in larger businesses where the business can afford to hire more specialised workers.
Multi-skilling - is where labour organisation is structured so that workers possess a range of skills
appropriate for use on a project or within an organisation.
HSC Online Link
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/2530/Multiskilling.html
Roles of Industry Personnel – this is in regards to the various roles of employees within a business and
the various responsibilities they have for ensuring that the business functions correctly.
Work Practices - this refers to the practices that the employees have throughout their day to day roles
and the rights that protect and ensuring them to retain these.
Check out HSC Online for information on any of these factors
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/
6. What is Workplace Health and Safety
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) is the final section of the Industry
Study report. This section focuses on the health and safety factors of a
business in the timber industry. The various points of this final part
includes:
• Government Legislation
• Industry Requirements – Standards, Policing, Prosecution
• Risk Assessment
• Safety Training and Human Factors
•Workplace Culture
•WHS Communication
6. What is Workplace Health and Safety
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) is the act or legislation that sets out the legal obligations
that must be complied with to provide for the health and safety of workers. The work health
and safety (WHS) laws commenced nationally and in NSW on 1 January 2012. The WHS laws
replaced the occupational health and safety (OHS) laws.
Government Legislation – The Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Act is the legislation that
protects and ensures the safety of all people in the workplace. Below are some sites that
discuss and elaborate on this Act.
• http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/whs-information/pages/whs-information
• http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/lawpolicy/acts-and-regulations/work-health-and-safetylegislation/Pages/default.aspx
• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/3189/index.htm
Industry Requirements – Standards, Policing, Prosecution – Standards and Legislation are
directed from the governments, and they set out how businesses work and design policies in
regards to WHS. The governments police these laws and standards at a state level through
their organisations such as workcover in NSW, and if they uncover that certain aspects aren’t
being followed they have jurisdiction to fine and prosecute the responsible parties involved in
the matter.
• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/2467/Industry_Standards.html
6. What is Workplace Health and Safety
Risk Assessment – Risk is the probability of a hazard posing harm to someone. Hazards could
be physical, chemical, fire, biological, etc. Risk Assessment is the evaluation of the likelihood of
the risk occurring and causing harm, and lowering the chance of the risk occurring by installing
other measures to counter it.
Safety Training and Human Factors – Safety training is essential for WHS as it ensures that
both the employers and employees are equip with the latest knowledge/understanding of
health and safety issues/requirements in their line of work. Safety training could include
training in operation of machinery and plant, First Aid training, fire evacuation procedures, etc.
Human factors are the aspects of human interactions with other elements in the workplace
including the concerns that arise in regards to WHS.
• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/1_2/1.2.html
6. What is Workplace Health and Safety
Workplace Culture – the culture of every workplace may differ between each, but it is an
essential factor that determines the way in which WHS is conducted and followed. The culture
is affected by the people who work within it, their beliefs in regards to WHS and how they
follow and manage these factors in order to ensure the safety of all in the workplace.
• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/3373/work_culture.htm
WHS Communication – is the way in which safety requirements governed by the WHS Act are
communicated in the workplace, to therefore lower the potential risk or harm to someone by
a hazard. Examples of communication include Signage (See link below), meetings, emails, site
inductions, logbooks, MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), JSA (Job Safety Analysis), etc.
• http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/3376/signage.htm
Industry Study Report Conclusion
When you complete the 6 sections of the Industry Study Report, conclude the
report through the Evaluation. In the evaluation section remember to evaluate all
your findings and summarise the main aspects of why you believe your business is
successful.
All key points that were covered in your report should be cited together, and
stated why they impact upon the business as a whole.
Overall I hope this presentation has been useful in developing an understanding
for how this report should be written, what the key parts and terms refer to, and
establish useful links and resources to further enhance your knowledge and
understanding of the Industry Study Topic.
Check out HSC Online for further information on the many parts contained within
the Industry Study Report
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ind_tech/ind_study/