scales of production Flashcards
(10 cards)
1
Q
one-off/bespoke
A
- one product is made, could be made to a particular clients specification (bespoke)
- every product is unique
- production is often labour intensive
- usually involves highly skilled workers who command high wages
- production can be time-consuming and costly
2
Q
batch
A
- a set number of products are passed through the production process together, one stage at a time, produced in large quantity but only once
- useful when making small quantities of a product or variations of similar products
- machines can be programmed to carry out specific tasks
- use of templates, jigs and moulds ensure products are identical
- downtime: machinery often has to be stopped and reconfigured between batches, inefficient
- materials can be purchased in large quantities, enabling the business to benefit from economies of scale
3
Q
mass
A
- production process is broken down into stages with different tasks being performed as the product move along the assembly line
- used to produce large quantities of identical products quickly
- productivity is high, so unit cost of production is low
- allows businesses to benefit from economies of scale and offer competitive prices
- suited to products that can be made using automated manufacturing techniques requiring minimal human involvement
- machinery is costly so initial set-up is expensive
4
Q
continuous
A
- identical products made without interruption
- 24/7
- production is quick and almost entirely automated so productivity is high and labour costs are low
- machinery is expensive so initial set-up costs are high
- cheap unit costs due to economies of scale
- only a limited range of products can be produced due to high level of automation
5
Q
give 3 examples of one-off products
A
wedding dresses, made to measure furniture, prototypes
6
Q
give 3 examples of batch products
A
bakery products, chocolate bars, printed circuit boards
7
Q
give 3 examples of mass products
A
mobile phones, cars, toys, electronics
8
Q
give 3 examples of continuous products
A
nails, paper clips, toilet roll, aluminium foil
9
Q
just in time
A
Where a company will plan for the parts that make up a product to arrive precisely when they are needed.
10
Q
give three examples of just in time
A
car industry (toyota), mcdonald’s, supermarkets
