2.4.1 Production, productivity and efficiency (1/4) Methods - Job + Batch

Question 1

Production

Answer 1

The transformation of resources into goods or services

Question 2

Job production

Answer 2

A manufacturing process where a one-off unique item for is made for a customer to their requirements

• Produced by highly skilled workers

Question 3

What type of workers are used in Job production

Answer 3

Highly skilled workers are used in job production

Question 4

Is job Production a labour or capital intensive approach

Answer 4

Labour intensive approach - High level of consumer input in the production process.

e.g creating the product, liasing with customers

Question 5

3 advantages of job production

Answer 5

• High levels of quality - so can charge higher prices.
• Can deliver high levels of customer satisfaction as you’re meeting the customers exact bespoke requirements -> can lead to gd publicity, repeat customers, enhanced brand image

-Motivated workers because e.g in contact with other workers , involved in more enriched jobs (which provides satisfaction , they’re actually their own skillsets.

Question 6

3 disadvantages of job production

Answer 6

• Very labour intensive & skilled need to be paid higher wages.may also need specialist equipment-> overall increases the unit costs

-Labour intensive means lower levels of output in comparison to other methods e.g batch/flow (which are capital intensive)

• less able to benefit from EOS because products are unique so can’t be made in bulk.-> increases the unit costs.

Question 7

Batch production

Answer 7

when much of the same equipment is used to manufacture of a limited number of identical products.

The products made in each batch is identical

Question 8

What can be done for the equipment and the production process of batch production

Answer 8

they can modified and adjusted to meet requirements of a different batch.

e.g changing the size, colour, quantity and other features

Question 9

4 - Benefits of Batch production

Answer 9

• Production is flexible since different orders of demand can be met e.g increasing the quantity,
• greater use of machinery which can result in the production process being faster & more higher levels of output
• Unit costs may be lower because can benefit from EOS due to higher levels of output e.g can bulk buy raw materials
• Workers are likely to specialise in one part of the production process - can improve efficiency & productivity

Question 10

3 Drawbacks of batch production

Answer 10

-Workers may be less motivated due to repetitive task being carried out-can lead to lower levels of productivity + quality issues

• May have to store lots of raw materials for potentially different products - can be expensive
• One mistake may spoil all products in a batch resulting in defective items - high levels of wastage e.g time & materials. This means an increase in unit costs

-Less efficient than flow production, as production may process may be stopped to change between batches.
- Meaning lowers levels of production so average costs will be higher