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SCALES OF PRODUCTION
V. Ryan © 2005 - 2008
 

The way products are manufactured depends on the quantity required. For example, cars are continually manufactured in hundreds of thousands , a prototype is a ‘one off’ (just one made) and DIY furniture is made in batches of thousands or hundreds. There are three main types of production and they are described below.

   

SCALE OF

 PRODUCTION

SAMPLE

PRODUCTS

DESCRIPTION / DETAIL

CONTINUOUS

CARS
PETROL / OIL PRODUCTS
BRICKS
MANY FOOD PRODUCTS

1. PRODUCTION LINE SET UP
2. PRODUCTION LINE SPLIT INTO SEPARATE OPERATIONS. UNSKILLED AND SEMI SKILLED WORKFORCE REQUIRED.
3. PRODUCTION LINE RUNS 24 HOURS A DAY 365 DAYS A YEAR.
4. HIGH LEVEL OF FINANCIAL INVESTMENT NEEDED AS SPECIALIST MACHINERY IS USUALLY REQUIRED.
5. QUALITY CONTROL AT EVERY STAGE.

     

SCALE OF

 PRODUCTION

SAMPLE

PRODUCTS

DESCRIPTION / DETAIL

BATCH

FURNITURE
ELECTRICAL GOODS
CLOTHING
NEWSPAPERS
BOOKS

1. FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION LINE SET UP - MUST B E ABLE TO CHANGE WHEN THE PRODUCT CHANGES
2. PRODUCTION LINE SPLIT INTO SEPARATE OPERATIONS. UNSKILLED AND SEMI SKILLED
3. PRODUCTION LINE RUNS FOR A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME UNTIL THE CORRECT NUMBER OF PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED
4. WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY REQUIRED. WORKERS MUST BE ABLE TO SWITCH FROM ONE JOB TO ANOTHER.
5. OFTEN COMPONENTS ARE BOUGHT FROM OTHER COMPANIES AND ASSEMBLED INTO THE NEW PRODUCT

     

SCALE OF

 PRODUCTION

SAMPLE

PRODUCTS

DESCRIPTION / DETAIL

SINGLE ITEM /

ONE OFF

PROTOTYPES
SPECIALIST MODELS
HANDMADE ITEMS
SPECIALIST ENGINEERING
ONE OFFS

1. SMALL SPECIALIST COMPANIES.
2. A SKILLED WORKFORCE - SPECIALIST SKILLS eg. ENGINEERING.
3. SPECIALIST MATERIALS OFTEN REQUIRED eg. SPECIALIST MODELLING MATERIALS.
4. HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED.
5. FINAL PRODUCTS OFTEN EXPENSIVE DUE LEVEL OF SKILL REQUIRED TO MANUFACTURE THEM AND COST OF SPECIALIST MATERIALS.
6. A HIGH STANDARD OF QUALITY CONTROL
7. PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED FOR AS SPECIALIST MARKET / CLIENTELE.
         

 

         

PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE VERSION OF EXERCISE SEEN BELOW

         

1. Write key phrases for each of the scales of production listed below. Arrange the words / phrases around the scale of production.
2. List five products manufactured through each of the scales of production.

         

 

 

         

PRODUCTS

 

PRODUCTS

 

PRODUCTS

         
1.   1.   1.
2.   2.   2.
3.   3.   3.
4.   4.   4.
5.   5.   5.
         

 

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