Scales of Production

One-off/bespoke production

• Bespoke products are individually designed for a unique situation

• Is more expensive to produce products compared to large scale

Why is one-off/bespoke production expensive?

• Larger manufacturing time

• Client consultation is required

• Requires more skilled workers

Examples of one-off/bespoke products

• a personalized wedding cake

• a chair for a physically disabled child

• a custom-made yacht for a wealthy businessman

Batch production

• The manufacturing of products where the manufacturing process is repeated to produce the same product

• It is more efficient and cost effective

Examples of batch production products

• high-quality loudspeakers

• wooden furniture

• jet engines

What tools are used in batch production to make the process quicker and more accurate?

• Jigs

• Mixture of manual CAD/CAM machines

• For example, slipcasting can be used to make bowls

Mass/line production

• Division of Labor - dividing up tasks and using a sequence of stages to produce products in large quantities

• Line production - a sequence of stages in order to manufacture the product

Examples of mass/line production products

• clothing

• bicycles

• mobile phones

• production of Robin Day chair made from PP

What industries are mass/line production most used?

• automotive

• aerospace

Unit production systems (UPS)

• overhead transport system

• used in the manufacture of textile products

• moves components between work stations

• mix of manually and computer controlled

Advantages of unit production systems (UPS)

• increased productivity

• short delivery and response time

• reduced handling operations so optimal use of labor

Lead time

time taken from customer placing the order and the order being delivered

QRM strategies

• Reduces lead time

• Focuses on responding to customer needs quickly

• The customer’s needs are the highest priority in design

• Quality must remain high

Vertical in-house production

• The supply chain of a company is owned by the company

• Companies that manufacture complex products need to decide to what extent they will use external suppliers

• The more a company uses vertical in-house production, less reliant on external suppliers

• They can organize factories accordingly

Advantages of vertical in-house production

• reduces the risks of overpriced components

• companies won’t be damaged if supplier is out of business

• improved protection of a company’s intellectual properties rights

• easier to do quality control

Disadvantages of vertical in-house production

• reduction in specialization, leading to dilute expertise

• increased administration

Dilute expertise

The quality of a product declines as it becomes more popular

Supply chain

• Network of people

• From the delivery of source materials to suppliers through to its delivery