Job, batch and flow production
From WikiTextbook
Job Production - One-off items with a very flexible design style, such as an architect designing a house or a cruise liner. Job production involves firms producing items which meet the specific requirements of the costumer.
Batch - Batch production is used to produce any product in groups that are called batches. An example of batch production can be found in a bakery. The products, for example bread, are made in batches of however many will fit in the baker's oven at a time. When that batch is made, the baker will start the process again with a new batch. Batch production techniques are used in the manufacture of specialty chemicals such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, inks, paints and adhesives.
Flow - Flow production involves a continuous movement of items through the process. This means that when one task is finished the next task must start immediately. Therefore, the time taken on each task must be the same.
When choosing a method of production, several factors should be taken into account:
- Depends on the type of market. If large volumes of standard products are required then the firm will tend towards flow production, however, if demand is for bespoke goods, then job production will be more appropriate.
- Many firms would like the benefits from economies of scale with the ability to mass-produce a range of products. New technology is making it easier for firms to produce multiple designs easily from the same machines.
- Job production can change with an evolving market, which allows small firms to stay ahead of competitors. However, large firms have the advantage of being able to afford flow production, and so can produce many more products.
Contents |
Job Production
Examples:
- Pottery
- Art
- Assasin
- Suits
- Large buildings, skyscraper, etc.
- Large boats, cruiseliner, etc.
- Unique/custom instruments
Job production is found in both the service and production sectors. Because the amount produced is so small, production tends to be very labour intensive. Usually carried out by specialists or skilled labourers: the possiblity of labour saving machinery may not be an option for a newly started business. Normally this from of production is supplied by small niche companies who have the required skills at their disposal.
It can be classed as:
- Low Technology - hairdressers, artists, potters, etc.
- High Technology - film production, nuclear submarine.
Batch Production
Batch Production is used when a demand for a product is more regular than one off; it is divided into a number of different parts or operations. Batch production is the process of any product of goods which are named batches. An example of this is a bakery which makes many pieces of bread in an oven and then repeats the process again with a new batch once the old batch is made. Another example of this is clothes (where a batch of size 12 clothes in blue might be made, then a batch of size 10 in red), or carpets. These defined techniques are used in the manufacture of speciality chemicals such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, inks, paints and adhesives.
Inefficiencies associated with batch production do occur. The equipment needed for the production must be stopped, re-configured, and its output tested before the next batch can be produced.
There are many advantages of Batch production; it is faster, cheaper, and (generally) easier to make than job production, but on the other hand it could restrict you to certain goods and could be difficult to adapt. Batch production would be better for smaller business who cannot afford to make continues production lines. Companies can also use batch production as a trial run. If a retailer buys a batch of a product and cannot sell them he/her will not make huge losses while other types of companies would.
An example of batch producion in a bakery:
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6606180509060972900&q=bread+baking
Flow Production
Flow production, a.k.a mass production involves production of large amounts of products which move from one stage of production straight to the other e.g. mobile phone cases. Once one task is complete the next task must start immediately. The flow from one stage to the next is achieved either by conveyor belts ? in the case of liquids ? by pipeline. Flow production uses a lot of machinery in relation to workers.
The advantage to this is that products can be roll off assembly lines at low prices. Also because the machine does not need to sleep it can work over night and on weekends improving productivity and thus lowering the cost per unit of production.
Using a machine to make products makes it very difficult to alter the production process and leaves little room for adjustment and the products must be very similar or standardised.
The biggest advantage is that there are more machines than workers which means they can produce a high number of products at very low cost. This also means that production can continue overnight and on weekends when workers would normally not have to work. It is also relatively inexpensive per unit and requires fewer workers if the process is mechanised, mass production is expensive to start off with to pay for all the machinery, but that soon pays for itself with reduced costs for labour. With mass production, if the machinery is accurate enough, the products made can be made all too exactly the same measurements, and will fit in perfectly with other suitable products continuously.
The biggest disadvantage is that the machinery makes production difficult to alter which makes production very inflexible and that means all the products have to be the same. The machinery is so expensive that there must be some assurance that the product will be successful so the company will get a return on its investment
With a high proportion of machinery compared to workers it increases the overall capital. Mass production has the purpose to serve large amounts of people.
It was popularised by Henry Ford in the early 20th Century, especially in his Ford Model T.
Links
Contributors
--Sam roberts 15:20, 6 February 2007 (UTC)
