Learning outcome 1: Understanding production activities.
We’ve seen what type of production methods exist and what sort of products are made with each style. But how does a company or individuals actually decide on which method would should be adopted? Below are the categories of considerations that need to be thought about.
The Types of Considerations
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Market Requirements
Understanding and meeting market demand is crucial for the success of any business. By aligning production methods with market requirements, companies can ensure that they produce the right quantity and variety of products to meet customer needs and preferences.
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Design of Product
The design of the product influences production feasibility, efficiency, and cost. Choosing the appropriate production type based on product design ensures that manufacturing processes can efficiently and effectively produce the desired product with the required quality and specifications.
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Plant, Equipment Layout, and Availability
The layout of the production facility and the availability of equipment determine the capacity, capabilities, and flexibility of the production process. Selecting the right production type based on plant layout and equipment availability optimizes resource utilization and minimizes disruptions to production.
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Personnel
Skilled and well-trained personnel are essential for executing production tasks efficiently and maintaining product quality. Considering personnel requirements ensures that the chosen production method aligns with the skills and expertise of available workforce, minimizing training needs and maximizing productivity.
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Production and Quality Control
Production efficiency and product quality are critical factors that directly impact customer satisfaction and business reputation. By integrating production and quality control considerations, companies can ensure consistent quality standards, minimize defects, and enhance overall production performance.
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Cost
Cost considerations are fundamental to business viability and profitability. Evaluating the costs associated with different production types helps companies make financially sound decisions that optimize resource allocation, maximize return on investment, and improve competitiveness in the market.
By carefully evaluating these considerations, businesses can make informed decisions when selecting a production type that best suits their needs, objectives, and resources. This ultimately leads to more efficient, effective, and successful production processes, enabling companies to meet customer demand, maintain quality standards, and achieve long-term growth and sustainability.
Activity:
In the lesson, various laminated products will be available. your job is to pick out a couple and fill out the corresponding worksheet asking you about what considerations you would need to take if you were to manufacture them. to your right will be the products and a copy of the worksheet if you wish to print it out.
Other Production techniques
Before we move on there are a couple of production techniques we need to be aware off.
Cellular Production
Cellular production refers to the manufacturing process where products are produced in small, self-contained units or cells rather than through a traditional assembly line. Each cell typically contains all the necessary equipment and resources needed to complete a specific task or stage of production. This approach is often used in lean manufacturing and can offer several advantages, including increased efficiency, flexibility, and quality control. Additionally, cellular production can facilitate better communication and collaboration among workers, as they are often organized into cross-functional teams within each cell. Overall, cellular production aims to streamline the manufacturing process and minimize waste while maximizing productivity and responsiveness to customer demands.
Push and Pull manufacturing
Just in Time (JIT)
Just in time (JIT) is a manufacturing strategy aimed at reducing waste and improving efficiency by receiving goods only as they are needed in the production process, thereby minimizing inventory costs and storage space requirements. In a JIT system, components and materials are delivered to the production line or assembly plant exactly when they are needed, eliminating the need for large inventories of raw materials, work-in-progress, or finished goods.
Push and pull production are two different approaches to managing the flow of materials and products in manufacturing processes.
Push Production:
In push production, goods are produced based on forecasts or predetermined production schedules, regardless of immediate demand.
Products are "pushed" through the production process according to a predetermined plan.
Finished goods are then stored in inventory until they are needed or sold.
Push production often leads to higher inventory levels and the risk of overproduction, as goods are produced in anticipation of future demand rather than in response to actual customer orders.
This approach is commonly associated with traditional manufacturing systems
Pull Production:
In pull production, goods are produced in response to actual customer demand.
Production is initiated only when an order is received or when inventory levels fall below a certain threshold.
As a result, production is "pulled" through the system by customer demand.
Pull production helps to minimize inventory levels, reduce waste, and increase efficiency by aligning production with actual demand.
Common techniques used in pull production systems include Just-in-Time (JIT) manufacturing and Kanban systems, where replenishment of materials is triggered by the depletion of inventory at downstream production stages.
Pull production is often associated with lean manufacturing principles and is used to improve responsiveness to customer needs while minimizing waste.