Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
Safety, Quality and the Environment
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Safety, Quality and the Environment
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Subject: Manufacturing Engineering
Class: SHS 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 7
Grade code: 2.3.3.LI.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: 2.3.3.CS.2
Indicator code: 2.3.3.LI.2
Theme: Manufacturing Tools, Equipment and Processes
Subtheme: Safety, Quality and the Environment
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Welcome, future engineers and industrial leaders! Today, we are moving beyond the individual machine or process to look at the bigger picture. The world of manufacturing in Ghana is constantly changing. Forces from outside our borders, challenges within our country, and new ideas about our planet are all shaping how things are made right here at home. Understanding these trends—globalization, energy costs, and environmental awareness—is not just academic. It helps us understand why a bottle of Coca-Cola costs what it does, why your favourite local textile company might be struggling, or why a new factory is being built in your district.
This lesson focuses on three powerful forces, or "trends," that are changing the face of manufacturing in Ghana. Trend 1: Globalization
Definition: Globalization is the process by which businesses, economies, and cultures become more interconnected across the world. For manufacturing, it means that a company in Ghana is no longer just competing with the company next door; it is competing with companies from China, Nigeria, Turkey, and Europe. It also means that a Ghanaian company can sell its products to customers all over the world.
Effects on Ghanaian Manufacturing: Negative Effect: Intense Competition Explanation: Many foreign products can be produced more cheaply on a massive scale and imported into Ghana. This makes it very difficult for local companies to compete on price. Ghanaian Example: The Ghanaian Textile Industry. Companies like Ghana Textiles Printing (GTP) and Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL) face immense competition from cheaper, often smuggled, textiles from Asia. This has led to factory shutdowns and significant job losses in places like Tema and Akosombo over the years, affecting thousands of families. Positive Effect: Access to New Markets & Technology Explanation: Globalization is not all bad news. It opens up new markets for Ghanaian products. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with its secretariat in Accra, is a prime example of regional globalization. It aims to make it easier for a Ghanaian company to sell its products in Kenya, South Africa, or Morocco. It also allows local firms to access cheaper raw materials and more advanced machinery from other countries. Ghanaian Example: A company like Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd. in Tema can now source high-tech chocolate-making machinery from Italy and export its finished, "Made in Ghana" chocolate bars to markets in Europe and across Africa, earning foreign exchange for the nation. Trend 2: Rise in Energy Costs
Definition: Energy, primarily electricity and fuel (diesel, petrol), is the lifeblood of manufacturing. A rise in energy costs means the expense of running machinery, lighting factories, and transporting goods increases significantly.