Production Processes

• Job production is when individual products are made one at a time to meet specific customer preferences.
• Batch production involves making a set quantity of identical products. This quantity is known as a ‘batch’. 
• Flow production is where the product moves through different stages of manufacture, with no interruption or delay between them.
• The main advantage of job production is that it allows businesses to make exactly what their customers want. Each item can be customised to suit the needs of the buyer.
• The main advantage of flow production is that it allows for high levels of efficiency because there is little waiting around for materials or equipment. The process can be streamlined so that everything flows smoothly from start to finish.
• A disadvantage of flow production is that it requires large amounts of capital investment. It may also require significant changes to the layout of the factory floor, which could disrupt operations while they take place.
• A disadvantage of batch production is that there may not always be enough demand for all items produced within a particular batch. If this happens, some items will have to be sold at discounted prices or even given away free to clear stock.
• The main disadvantage of batch production is that it requires more storage space than other methods. Batch sizes need to be large enough to justify the cost of setting up machinery but not too big that they take over the factory floor.
• A disadvantage of job production is that employees with specialist skills are required, which increases costs, especially is training is needed.
• An advantage of flow production is that it can be highly automated.
• A disadvantage of flow production is that in competitive markets for similar mass-produced goods, profit margins can be very low.
• Productivity is a measure of efficiency. It can be measured in products produced per worker, per day, month or year.
• A business can improve productivity in various ways:

  • Investing in up-to-date machinery – This can help workers to produce more products in the same length of time. It can also reduce the need for employees by replacing them with automated machinery.
  • Providing incentives to encourage workers to work harder and faster – There are several ways this can be achieved, such as through promotion opportunities or pay incentives.
  • Providing training to staff to improve their skills so they can work more efficiently.
• Being more productive enables businesses to keep their costs per unit as low as possible.
•  Technology costs money to purchase, but reduces the cost of producing products. 
•  Using machinery to mechanise or automate parts of the production process leads to an increase in productivity.
• Businesses often need to balance technology with human flexibility. Automation is good for mass production but it doesn’t work so well for products that will be personalised to meet individual customers’ preferences. 
• The use of robots has increased over recent years due to advances in technology. Robotics involves using machines to carry out tasks which would normally have been done by humans. They are used in manufacturing processes where there is repetitive work involved. The main advantages of robotics include speed, accuracy and reliability. However, one disadvantage is that they cannot replace all jobs because some require human intelligence and decision making abilities.