Scales of Production

• One-off production: where just one complete product is produced
• Batch Production: where a limited amount of the same product is produced during a particular period of time
• Mass production: manufacturing in large quantities over a long period of time. Typically uses a production line
• Continuous production: runs constantly and is highly automated
• One-off production is suitable for prototypes and when a product is designed for a client with specific needs
• Client can commission a designer to produce bespoke item (made to a customer’s requirements).
• Examples of one-off production: football stadium, bespoke jewellery
• • Batches can be in single figures or several hundred depending on what the product is e.g. set of dining chairs, bridesmaid dresses 
• • Extensive use of jigs, templates and moulds to assure consistency across a batch. 
• • CAD/CAM enables Quick change over between one batch of products and another without time consuming human involvement e.g. manufacture from a CAD file. 
• Mass produced products are made in large volumes, in factories with a high level of automation and very few, if any, processes completed by hand
• One-off production refers to the production of a single, unique item, while batch production involves producing a limited quantity of identical items at the same time.
• A continuous production line is run non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, manufacturing products to meet a constant demand