4.1 Production processes

• Job production


  One-off, specialised production; tailor-made to meet the individual needs of a specific customer. Usually ‘labour intensive’ (relies on skilled workers not machines).
• Batch production


  Where products are made in groups / batches; e.g. different sizes, shapes, colours. Can also include products made in stages (e.g. doors, bonnets & engines) which are then assembled.
• Flow production

  Continuous, mass production of the same product, over and over again. Often ‘capital intensive’ (relies on machines not skilled workers).
• division of labour’

  This is where the whole production process broken down into individual stages
• Benefits of division of labour

  Machines can work 24/7, without breaks or holidays, and at a faster rate than humans

  Reduces costs associated with employees in the long term: recruitment, training, wages, motivation methods, appraisals,

  consistent quality
• Drawbacks of division of labour

  May need fixing or updating which is expensive.

  Break downs could affect productivity / cause ‘downtime’.

  Machines cannot make individual / hand crafted / personal items.