4.3 - Scale of production

One-off Production

• Is an individual product or a prototype for larger-scale production.

• Products maybe made often with craft production techniques or a combination of craft and machines.

• There is a close relationship between the manufacturer and consumer due to the user needs dominate.

• If a prototype is made then it is usually part of the realisation of a product and so the next step after testing and evaluating would be batch or continuos flow production.

• Examples of products made include prototypes (e.g. car or clothing production), specialist models, hand crafted items (e.g. jewellery, shaker furniture), specialist engineering, specialist architecture (e.g. individual homes, skyscrapers, hotels like the Hydropolis) and just plain old one offs (e.g. Ocean liners).

• With CAD/CAM (eg 3d Printing) one-off production can occur in the home.

Batch Production

• It is a limited production run (a set number of items to be produced).

• Batch production is a manufacturing method used to produce or process any product in batches, as opposed to a continuous production process, or an one-off production.

• Batch production is popular in bakeries and in the manufacture of sports shoes, pharmaceutical ingredients, inks, paints and adhesives.

• Can be mechanised or automated production

Mass Production

• The production of large amounts of standardized products on production lines, permitting very high rates of production per worker.

• Used when large quantities of products are needed such cars, bic pens etc

Continuous Flow Production

• Continuous flow is a production method used to manufacture, produce or process materials without interruption.

• Is where thousands of standardised products are continuously made 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

• It is carried out to maximise production while reducing the costs of starting and stopping the production process.

• It can be mechanised or automated process with only a handful of workers needed.