Methods of Production - Batch production 2.4.1

Batch production - Identical or similar items are produced together in groups (batches), each item passing through the production process at the same time, before moving onto the next

Examples of batch production:

1. Printers = printing a certain number of newspapers, magazines or books and then resetting their machines to produce a batch of another issue or titles
2. Baker = produces a batch of 50 white loaves. Only after they are completed will he or she start baking 50 loaves of brown bread.
3. Factory = produces a batch of size 14 t-shirts, then a batch of size 12 t-shirts

Aims:

• Concentrate skills
• Achieve better use of equipment and so will produce good quality products more economically than manufacturing them individually.

 

BATCH PRODUCTION
ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
Costs savings can be achieved when buying in bulk and allows for quicker and cheaper production of individual items	Time consuming as it may take time to switch production of one batch to another
Still allows customers some choice due to variations in different batches	Requires the business to maintain higher stocks of raw materials and work-in progress
Products can be worked on by specialist staff or equipment at each stage, creating more uniform products	Tasks may become boring and repetitive, reducing motivation and creating job dissatisfaction
Works well to meet various levels of demand and so firm can easily handle unexpected orders	Size of batch dependent on capacity allocated
	Still not as cheap to produce as flow production
	Lacks full unique customisation of job production and so cannot meet all customers’ needs exactly