What is the Production Process?

Designers must consider the design of the process that is used to produce the product.  

Process designs can be categorized under four process types:

• Project
• Jobbing
• Batch
• Mass
• Continuous

What is the Project Production Process? 

Processes that produce high variety and low volume products are termed projects. 

Project processes are used to make a one-of product to a customer specification. 

It generally requires unique resources such as staff and equipment.

There is generally increased coordination of many individuals and activities.

Project processes demand a problem-solving approach to ensure they are completed on time. They tend to require longer manufacturing times. 

What is Jobbing Process?

Jobbing processes are used to make a one-of or low volume product to a customer specification. 

Generally, the product moves to the location of transforming resources such as equipment, which is shared in the production of other products. 

Jobs require the use of skilled labour in order to cope with the need for customization.

General purpose equipment which is shared between products but utilization is lower because of custom setup. 

What is the Batch Production Process?

Batch production processes produce products of medium variety and medium volume.

The products are grouped as they move through the design process. 

Production happens a manufacturing location, where equipment is set up between batches for higher utilization of the equipment. 

The high volumes associated with batching allows for the use of specialized labor and equipment. (Though, this often leads to bottlenecks in a process.)

What is the Line Production Process?

Line production produces high volume and low variety products in mass. 

The product design the production process will essentially be the same for all the products. 

The cost effective nature allows for the use of specialized labor and equipment. Much of the process may be automated, and equipment utilization is high.

Through a technique called “Line Balancing”, process times per unit are equalized at each stage of production. 

Because of the low product variety, setting up of equipment is minimized and utilization of equipment is high. Examples of the use of a mass process include cars, consumer durables. 

What is a Continuous Production Process? 

Continuous Production Processes operate continually to produce a very high volume of a standard product. 

Continuous processes use a large amount of equipment specialized and dedicated to producing a single product. 

Labor generally controls and monitors the automated production process.