What factors influence the location of factories?

What factors influence the location of factories?

• 1.
  Factors affecting the locationof economic activities Key questions What are the factors affecting economic activities?
• 2.
  Starter  Cut outall of the cards  Match up with the correct definition.  Sort into physical and human factors  Stick in your book when correct but check with me first! Extension: For each one give an example.
• 3.
  Factory location
• 4.
  Physical factors  Rawmaterials – the bulkier and heavier these are to transport, the nearer a factory should be located to the raw materials. This was even more important in times when transport was less developed.  Power (energy) – this is needed to work the machines in the factory. Early industry needed to be sited near to fast-flowing rivers or coal reserves, but, today, electricity can be transported long distances.  Natural routes – in the days before the railway, car or lorry, transport was by river or horse and cart, so flat areas and river valleys were essential.  Site and Land – although early industry did not take up much space at first, it did need flat land for building. As the size of
• 5.
  Human factors  Labour– factories, and some other sectors of the industry need large numbers of workers. Others needed skilled employees e.g. technology-based industries often need university graduates.  Capital (money) – early industry depended on wealthy people willing to risk their own money but investment now also comes from banks and governments.  Markets – the size and the location of markets has become more important than the source of raw materials.
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  Human factors  Governmentpolicies – as governments tend to control most wealth, they can influence industrial location by giving grants to help certain parts of their country.  Improved technology – examples include facsimile (fax) machines, electronic mail and satellite communications.  Leisure facilities – in the town and countryside, leisure facilities for employees are becoming more important.  Economies of scale – small units may become
• 7.
  Task  You arein charge of a large industrial company and want to build a new factory which will make your main product. Your job is to design the factory before it is built so that you will have a good idea of  what it will looklike  what it will need in orderto be successful.  Complete the sheet first to support yourideas - go through the 10 questions listed and record your answers in the spaces provided. When you have finished, you should have a much clearer idea of what your factory will be like.  You can then start to design yourfactory but make sure that your factory design:  ties in with youranswers  is fully labelled to explain yourchoices.  Design yourfactory and draw a sketch of the site it is located in (froma bird’s eye view) and add labels to explain why you have built it there