NOTES

• Sales of production:

  • some products are manufactured in huge volumes, whereas for other products, only one unit is made
  • four different scales of production:
  • One-off production
  • Batch production
  • Mass production
  • Continuous production
• one-off production:

  • A single product or unit is made
  • One-off production is suitable for prototypes and when a product is designed for a client with specific needs
• prototypes and 3D printing:

  • Prototypes are classified as one-off products and 3D printing is often used to manufacture prototypes 
• Batch production:

  • More than one unit is produced at a time in a set or batch e.g. confectionary, newspapers or furniture items
  • Patterns, templates or jigs are used to increase efficiency
  • Production lines are flexible and generally have shorter lead times
• Jigs, patterns and templates:

  • Jigs and patterns can be made or bought in to expedite a certain process
  • They can help to perform repetitive or awkward tasks accurately
  • Jigs can be used in one-off,  and batch production
• CNC machines:

  • CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control
  • These are CAD/CAM machines like laser cutters and CNC routers 
  • These machines are often used in batch production because they are accurate and efficient but also flexible
• Mass production:

  • 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
  • high set up cost and low unit costs characterise mass production
• Set-up costs:

  • The more automation in a production line, the higher the set-up costs will be
  • Products made using complex industrial machinery will be mass produced
• Continuous production:

  • A continuous production line is run non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, manufacturing products to meet a constant demand