Production

• Definition of production: production process refers to the different systems used to produce products
• what is job production + examples?

  a unique product that is often made by a skilled worker specific to a person's requirements, usually made one at a time.

  e.g wedding dresses + tailored suits.
• 2 advantages of job production:

  • results in high quality products that match customer needs -> business can charge higher prices for the items
  • employees producing products are highly skilled and have interesting + challenging jobs -> motivated + dedicated workforce.
• 3 disadvantages of job production:

  • time-consuming -> products take longer to produce compared to goods made in mass/flow production, means less products are sold.
  • skilled workers will command higher payments for their time and expertise
  • often only targeting a smaller market e.g wedding dresses.
• what is batch production + examples ?

  method which involves manufacturing a limited number of identical products. Within each stage of the production process, work will be completed for the whole batch before the next stage is begun.

  e.g furniture manufactures + production of loaves of bread.
• 4 advantages of batch production?

  • reduction in unit costs as can benefit from economies of scale
  • quicker than job production as it combines elements of job and mass production
  • use specialist machinery -> doesn't need skilled employees which can reduce cost of production
  • products can be produced in very large or very small quantities depending on the level of demand
• 4 disadvantages of batch production?

  • if there is a faulty product in the batch, then the whole batch has to be written off -> lots of waste
  • initial cost of machinery
  • machinery does most of the jobs -> can lead to employees becoming bored and demotivated with their jobs.
  • lost production time due to breakdown of machinery
• what is mass/flow production + examples?

  involves the production of products on production line, this is a continuous process, the product flows from one stage of production to the next.

  this method allows identical products to be made in large volumes.

  e.g creme eggs + cars
• 3 advantages of mass/flow production?

  • faster production method than batch or job production -> large quantities can be produced
  • unit costs can be reduced -> result of economies of scale
  • reduction in labour costs -> there is no need to employee specialist workers as machinery does most of the work
• 4 disadvantages of mass/flow production?

  • set up costs can be very high -> expensive machinery
  • products will tend to be standardised -> can't increase prices as much as products made by job production
  • breakdowns can be very costly -> interdependent nature of the process can mean that if one section breaks down the whole line may have to stop
  • jobs for those working in such environments tend to be repetitive + boring -> motivation issues
• factors affecting what type of production is used?

  • the product being produced
  • the cost of labour
  • the availability of money for investement
  • technology
  • the skills of labour
  • the size of the market
  • customer requirements