Question 1

Can a business use more than one production method at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. A large business might use different methods for different products. For example, a car manufacturer might use flow production for its standard models but use job production in a specialist division to build a unique vehicle for a motorsport event. A restaurant might use batch production to prepare sauces and soups in the morning and job production to cook individual meals to order during service.

Question 2

Is batch production just a less efficient version of flow production?

Accepted Answer

This is a common misconception. They serve different purposes. Flow production is designed for one single, unchanging product in high volume. Batch production's key strength is its ability to produce a variety of products using the same equipment. The 'inefficiency' of downtime between batches is the necessary price for the flexibility to offer a wider product range, which flow production cannot do.

Question 3

Is 'mass customisation' just another name for 'job production' using computers?

Accepted Answer

Not quite. While both offer customisation, their core principles differ. Job production creates a truly unique 'one-off' item, often with high-skilled craft labour and high costs. Mass customisation operates on a larger scale, offering choice from a pre-set (though often large) menu of options and components. It uses automation to assemble these options efficiently, keeping costs much lower than traditional job production.

Operations methods: job, batch, flow, mass customisation

What you need to know

Operations methods: job, batch, flow, mass customisation