Scales of Production

• What are the different scales of production?

  One-off, Batch, Mass/High volume, Continuous, JIT (Just In Time)
• What is One-off production?


  Custom-made products
• What are some examples of One-off production?


  Personalised gifts, cars
• What is Batch production?


  Limited quantity of identical products are made
• What are some examples of Batch production?


  Bakery goods, limited-time items
• What is Mass/High volume production?


  Hundreds of identical products are made, usually on a production line. It involves a number of sub-assemblies of individual components
• What are some examples of Mass/High volume production?


  Pens, bottles
• What is JIT (Just In Time) production?


  Materials arrive “just in time” to be assembled
• What are the advantages of One-off production?


  Products are unique
• What are the disadvantages of One-off production?


  High skill required, labour intensive, cost is significantly higher
• What are the advantages of Batch production?


  Production techniques = cheaper than One-off, limited numbers make product more desirable
• What are the disadvantages of Batch production?


  Can be difficult to buy product, parts/fixing products may be difficult
• What are the advantages of Mass/High volume production?


  Very efficient, process can be automated reducing company’s wage costs, suitable for very common/ubiquitous products
• What are the disadvantages of Mass/High volume production?


  Process can be automated reducing employment, required 24-hour production, shutdowns are costly