Types of Production Systems: Job shop production,Batch production and Mass production
A production system can be defined as a transformation system in which a saleable product or service is created by working upon a set of inputs. Inputs are usually in the form of men, machine, money, materials etc.
Production systems are usually classified on the basis of the following:
Type of product,
Type of production line,
Rate of production and
Equipments used etc.
Types of Production Systems
Production Systems classified into three categories:
1. Job shop production
2. Batch production
3. Mass production
Job shop Production
In this system products are made to satisfy a specific order. However that order may be produced-
only once
or at irregular time intervals as and when new order arrives
or at regular time intervals to satisfy a continuous demand
The following are the important characteristics of job shop type production system:
- Machines and methods employed should be general purpose as product changes are quite frequent.
- Planning and control system should be flexible enough to deal with the frequent changes in product requirements.
- Man power should be skilled enough to deal with changing work conditions.
- Schedules are actually non existent in this system as no definite data is available on the product.
- In process inventory will usually be high as accurate plans and schedules do not exist.
- Product cost is normally high because of high material and labor costs.
- Grouping of machines is done on functional basis (i.e. as lathe section, milling section etc.)
- This system is very flexible as management has to manufacture varying product types.
- Material handling systems are also flexible to meet changing product requirements.
Batch Production
Batch production is the manufacture of a number of identical articles either to meet a specific order or to meet a continuous demand. Batch can be manufactured either-
only once
or repeatedly at irregular time intervals as and when demand arise
or repeatedly at regular time intervals to satisfy a continuous demand
The following are the important characteristics of batch type production system:
- As final product is somewhat standard and manufactured in batches, economy of scale can be availed to some extent.
- Machines are grouped on functional basis similar to the job shop manufacturing.
- Semi automatic, special purpose automatic machines are generally used to take advantage of the similarity among the products.
- Labor should be skilled enough to work upon different product batches.
- In process inventory is usually high owing to the type of layout and material handling policies adopted.
- Semi automatic material handling systems are most appropriate in conjunction with the semi automatic machines.
Mass Production
In mass production, same type of product is manufactured to meet the continuous demand of the product. Usually demand of the product is very high and market is going to sustain same demand for sufficiently long time.
The following are the important characteristics of mass production system:
- As same product is manufactured for sufficiently long time, machines can be laid down in order of processing sequence. Product type layout is most appropriate for mass production system.
- Standard methods and machines are used during part manufacture.
- Most of the equipments are semi automatic or automatic in nature.
- Material handling is also automatic (such as conveyors).
- Semi skilled workers are normally employed as most of the facilities are automatic.
- As product flows along a pre defined line, planning and control of the system is much easier.
- Cost of production is low owing to the high rate of production.
- In process inventories are low as production scheduling is simple and can be implemented with ease.