Production Processes
One-off, in batches, or on a non-stop line: how a business makes its products shapes cost, speed and price. Compare job, batch and flow production, and see how technology changes the factory floor.
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How things get made
Every business turns inputs into the goods or services its customers want. But *how* it makes them, one at a time, in batches, or on a non-stop line, changes the cost, the speed and the price. This module compares job, batch and flow production, and sees how technology reshapes the factory floor.
The language of production
Four ideas run through this module:
The two extremes
Job and flow production sit at opposite ends, trading flexibility against cost per unit.
Made to measure
A tailor makes a single, made-to-measure wedding suit for one customer. Which production method is this?
- Job production
- Batch production
- Flow production
- Mass production of thousands
Job, batch, flow
- Job production
- Batch production
- Flow production
- Automation
- One-off items with a high cost per unit
- Groups of identical items with some flexibility
- Continuous mass production at a low cost per unit
- Machines doing tasks to raise productivity
Measure the productivity
A factory makes 600 identical units in a day using 20 workers. What is its output per worker, in units?
Technology on the line
Machines, robots and computers can lower costs, raise productivity, improve quality and add flexibility, and they can run around the clock. The trade-off: they are expensive to set up, need maintenance, and can replace people's jobs.
Why automate?
Select the TWO benefits that technology brings to production.
- Lower costs and higher productivity
- Better, more consistent quality
- It never needs any maintenance
- It always creates more jobs
Along the production line
Put the stages of a flow-production line into order.
- Raw materials arrive at the start of the line
- Each stage adds one part or process
- The product moves continuously along the line
- Machines and workers repeat the same task
- Finished, identical products come off the end
Production in words
A business turns inputs into finished _____. Making a single one-off item is called _____ production, while making groups of identical items is _____ production. Continuous mass production on a line is _____ production, which gives the lowest cost per _____.
The lowest unit cost
Which production method usually gives the lowest cost per unit?
- Flow production
- Job production
- Making one item at a time
- Bespoke, made-to-order work
Job, batch or flow
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.
- Job production makes one-off items and has a high cost per unit.
- Flow production makes large numbers of identical items on a line.
- Batch production makes a single unique item at a time.
- Flow production has the highest cost per unit of all the methods.
- Technology always reduces the quality of products.
Pick the method
Choose the production method that best fits each business.
- A carpenter is asked to build one unique, made-to-order bookcase. Which method fits?
- A bakery makes 200 identical sourdough loaves each morning, then switches to make bread rolls. Which method is this?
- A drinks company needs to make millions of identical cans as cheaply as possible. Which method fits?
Recommend a method
A new company plans to make large numbers of identical phone cases at the lowest possible cost. Recommend a production method, justify your choice, and explain how technology could help.
- Recommend job, batch or flow production for this business
- Explain why that method suits making many identical items cheaply
- Explain one drawback of your chosen method
- Explain how technology could improve the production