operations methods

• Job production


  Manufacturing of a one-off item, something that is really special, one-of-a-kind
• Examples of job production

  • Batmobile
  • Wedding cake
  • Spaceship
• Product Perception Map (PPM)


  A framework to categorise products
• Job production


  • Highly flexible and customizable
  • Allows for customisation to customer needs and wants
  • Produces only one thing at a time
• Batch production


  Manufacturing of a group or batch of identical products using the same equipment
• Examples of batch production

  • Bakery
  • Pharmaceutical industry
  • Brewery
• Batch production


  • Customizable for the entire batch
  • More efficient than job production due to economies of scale
  • More capital intensive than job production
• Mass/Flow production


  Large-scale manufacturing of identical products on a non-stop production line, where the product is built up at every stage
• Examples of mass/flow production

  • Coke
  • Mass market cars
  • Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) like toilet paper and toothbrush
• Mass/Flow production


  • Highly efficient with low average costs, fast production time, and highly automated
  • Utilises economies of scale
  • Requires less skilled workforce
• Mass customization


  Same as mass/flow production but flexible and allows for customization
• Examples of mass customization

  • Volkswagen Group - produces same components but combines them differently in different cars
  • Mini - manufactures base product then customizes at final stage
• Mass customization


  • Combines benefits of mass production (efficiency, low costs) with customization
• Henry Ford developed the assembly line method of mass production, which revolutionized the car industry