1.6 modern and industrial scales of practice

scale of production

the consideration of the number of products to be made using particular manufacturing methods to suit a particular market

bespoke production

One off production of a product that fits the specific and individual specification

batch production

the manufacture of groups of products to increase efficiency and economies of scale

line production

the manufacture of large numbers of products in factories set up so that processes can be efficiently carried out by workers and or teams organised in a specific sequence

mass production

the manufacture of large numbers of products in factories that are usually highly machanised

unit production systems (UPS)

the use of overhead transporters for component transfer between workers to improve factory efficiency

quick response manufacturing

the use of mainly computer based technology to facilitate efficient, competitive production of low-volume, customised products

vertical in-house production

the organisation of manufacture to reduce dependence on externally sourced parts and sub-assemblies

Just in time

The manufacture of products as needed in response to existing orders

Economic use of materials

• Nesting - waste less material

• Measurements to mean that exact dimensions of sheet materials e.g. changing 410mm x 410mm to 400mm x 400mm

• Using stock sizes

Cell production

Production line divided into self contained units (cells) where a team of workers are responsible

Flexible manufacturing systems

Extensive use of of cell production making it easy to transfer production from one part or product to another.

Standardised components

Parts such as screws and lightbulbs that are made to a common standard to ensure interchangeability

Bought-in components

Parts that are sourced from external suppliers rather than being manufactured in-house

Sub assembly

A self-contained element of a product that is made separately and incorporated in the final assembly stages