Methods of Manufacturing

Question 1

What are the methods are manufacturing?

Answer 1

Job production
Batch production
Mass/flow production
Process production

Question 2

What is job production?

Answer 2

One single item is made at a time and is often produced/tailored to the customer’s individual specifications/requirements

Question 3

Examples of job production?

Answer 3

Cakes, wedding dresses, tailored suits, moon-pig cards

Question 4

Advantages of job production?

Answer 4

Job satisfaction is high for the worker
Quality of the goods is very high
Design is flexible and can be changed

Question 5

Disadvantages of job production

Answer 5

The product is more expensive than if mass produced
The work is more time consuming as it’s more labour intensive

Question 6

What is Batch production?

Answer 6

This is when several of the same product are made at one time

Question 7

Examples of batch production

Answer 7

Newspapers, bread, buns, clothing, books

Question 8

Advantages of batch production?

Answer 8

Labour costs reduced so final price is lower
Machinery may be used for making the products
Variety of products are available

Question 9

Disadvantages of batch production

Answer 9

The work is less interesting than in job production as it is repetitive
More space is required for working
Machines may have to be re-set which wastes time

Question 10

What is flow production?

Answer 10

One product is made continuously in large numbers. This sometimes known as mass production

Question 11

Examples of flow production

Answer 11

Motor vehicles, TV’s, toys, chocolate

Question 12

Advantages of flow production

Answer 12

The final product is inexpensive
Large quantities can be manufactured
The quality of the product is standardised
Production is fast

Question 13

Disadvantages of flow production?

Answer 13

The work is less interesting as it is repetitive and boring
Products are all identical
There is a loss of traditional skills

Question 14

What is process production

Answer 14

The manufacturing of process products which cannot be disassembled

Question 15

Advantages of process production

Answer 15

It ensures manufacturing consistency with its clear and detailed formula
Quality is higher
It’s a more capital-intensive production method, therefore wage costs are lower

Question 16

Disadvantages of process production

Answer 16

A mistake made may not be spotted until the end of the production process.
May require more machinery which increases cost of production

Question 17

What is specialisation?

Answer 17

This occurs when an employee concentrates on one particular operation-task and does it all the time

Question 18

What are the types of specialisation

Answer 18

Product
Process
Function
Country

Question 19

Advantages of specialisation

Answer 19

People can work constantly at jobs which suit their special skills or training.
The finished product should be of higher quality because of this expertise.

Question 20

What is division of labour?

Answer 20

The manufacture of the product is divided up into a number of small stages and each employee is given a single task which may be very narrow

Question 21

Advantages of division of labour

Answer 21

Each worker becomes very practised at one particular task.
Training costs are reduced as workers only have to be trained for one small task

Question 22

Disadvantages of division of labour?

Answer 22

The work can be very monotonous and boring.
Bored work can cause more accidents.
It’s difficult for workers to have pride in their work since they don’t see the finished product.

Question 23

What is CAM?

Answer 23

It’s the process of using specialised computers to control, monitor and adjust the tools and machinery used in manufacturing

Question 24

Advantages of the impact of technology on production

Answer 24

Improved quality of the finished product.
The development of new products.
Increased production levels.
Higher profit levels

Question 25

Disadvantages of the impact of technology on product production

Answer 25

Possible redundancies of employees.
Retraining programs.
Capital costs.