Production methods

Question 1

What are the four types of production?

Answer 1

• Prototype or One-Off Production
• Batch Production
• Mass Production
• Continuous Production

Question 2

What are the two efficiency based scales of manufacture?

Answer 2

• lean manufacturing
• just-in-time (JIT)

Question 3

What is one-off production?

Answer 3

The manufacture of a single product. E.g. bridges

Question 4

What is batch production?

Answer 4

Groups of products are produced simultaneously. E.g. baked goods

Question 5

What is mass production?

Answer 5

The production of large quantities of products by an automated mechanical process. E.g. Coca Cola bottle

Question 6

What is continuous production?

Answer 6

A flow production method used to manufacture, produce or process materials without interruption.

Question 7

What is lean manufacture?

Answer 7

A production process that aims to maximise productivity whilst simultaneously minimising waste.

Question 8

What is Just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing?

Answer 8

A production model in which items are created to meet demand.

Question 9

What are some characteristics of one-off production?

Answer 9

• smaller, more specialist companies
• a skilled workforce
• high quality products
• more expensive products

Question 10

What are advantages and disadvantages of one-off production?

Answer 10

• high quality finish
• can be made to exact customer requirements
  BUT
• slow manufacturing process
• special materials often require special manufacturing techniques
• expensive

Question 11

What are some characteristics of batch production?

Answer 11

• flexible machinery and labour that can easily be adapted to different products
• increase and decrease manufacture to suit demand
• jigs and CNC machining can be used for repeated tasks
• the time between manufacture of batches is called down-time.

Question 12

What are advantages and disadvantages of batch production?

Answer 12

• batches can be repeated
• money saved by bulk-buying materials
• good finish
  BUT
• set-up is time consuming
• costly manufacturing down-time

Question 13

What are some characteristics of mass production?

Answer 13

• fast production for high demands
• constant manufacture 24/7
• bulk buy materials
• large factories

Question 14

What are advantages and disadvantages of mass production?

Answer 14

• fast manufacturing process
• money saved on bulk buying materials
• skilled workforce not required
• cheap
  BUT
• automated manufacture reduces workforce
• products cannot be changed easily
• storage costs