Scales of Production Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are the different methods of production?
Products are made using different methods of production depending on the type of product and the quality and quantity demanded.
What is one-off production?
In one-off production, bespoke products are made to meet specific customer requirements, and every product is unique.
What are the key points of one-off production?
- One-off production is often labour intensive.
- It usually involves highly skilled workers who command relatively high wages.
- Each item is individually made, making production time-consuming and costly, but the finished product is usually of high quality.
What are examples of one-off production?
Examples include bespoke clothing, furniture, and jewellery.
What is a prototype?
A prototype is an early, working version of a product or system made using one-off production, used to test different aspects of a design.
What is batch production?
In batch production, a set number of products are passed through the production process together, one stage at a time.
What are the key points of batch production?
- Batch production is useful for making small quantities or variations of similar products.
- Machines can be programmed for specific tasks, ensuring products are identical.
- Downtime occurs when machinery is stopped and reconfigured for each batch, which can be inefficient.
- Materials can be purchased in large quantities, benefiting from economies of scale.
What are examples of batch production?
Examples include a bakery making different types of bread or cake.
What is mass production?
Mass production is a method where the production process is broken down into stages, with different tasks performed as products move along the assembly line.
Examples include newspapers, drinks bottles, and cars.
What are the key benefits of mass production?
Mass production allows for the production of large quantities of identical products quickly, resulting in high productivity and low unit costs.
This leads to economies of scale and competitive pricing.
What type of labor is required in mass production?
Little skilled labor is required as workers or machines perform simple dedicated tasks at each stage of the production process.
What is a drawback of mass production?
Machinery is costly, making the initial set-up expensive.
What is continuous production?
Continuous production is a method where identical products are made without interruption, stopping only occasionally for cleaning and maintenance.
What are the key features of continuous production?
Continuous production runs 24/7, is quick and almost entirely automated, resulting in high productivity and low labor costs.
Unit costs are very cheap due to economies of scale.
What is a limitation of continuous production?
Due to the high level of automation, only a very limited range of products can be produced.
What are examples of continuous production?
Examples include pulp and paper production, metal smelting, and casting.
What is the cost implication of continuous production?
Machinery is expensive, leading to high initial set-up costs.
