Discuss what has happened in recent industrial history to reduce the usefulness of direct labor as the primary basis for allocating overhead to products?

Advances in computerized systems, technological innovation, global competition, and automation have changed the manufacturing environment. The amount of direct labor used in many industries has greatly decreased, and total overhead costs resulting from depreciation on expensive equipment and machinery, utilities, repairs, and maintenance have significantly increased. When there is not a correlation between direct labor and overhead, it is inappropriate to use predetermined overhead rates based on direct labor.