Role of IT
Computers have become an integral part of industrial production; they play an important role in day-to-day administration, maintenance, and support of production activities.
One obstacle associated with expanding computer use is the need for different computer systems to communicate with each other. Because of the importance of maintaining up-to-date information—accounting records, sales figures, or budget projections, for example—systems analysts work on making the computer systems within an organization, or among organizations, compatible so that information can be shared among them. Many systems analysts are involved with “networking,” connecting all the computers internally—in an individual office, department, or establishment—or externally, because many organizations rely on e-mail or the Internet. A primary goal of networking is to allow users to retrieve data from a mainframe computer or a server and use it on their desktop computer. Systems analysts must design the hardware and software to allow the free exchange of data, custom applications, and the computer power to process it all. For example, analysts are called upon to ensure the compatibility of computing systems between and among businesses to facilitate electronic commerce.
In the core work process IT and computers also play a vital role in transforming manual process to semi-automated machines and semi-automated machines to fully automated ones. For example, in case of Programmable Logic Controllers, the use of IT is highlighted to a great extent. It helps to automatically execute the sequence of steps in the manufacturing process. Thereby it ensures that all the steps are rigidly followed in the correct order. It also acts a device for quality control by ensuring that all the nitty-gritty of the process is taken care of.
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