Good morning everyone. Today we are going to talk about operations methods, which are basically the different ways businesses produce their goods and services. There are four main types you need to understand: job production, batch production, flow production, and mass customisation. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice depends on what the business is making, how much of it they are making, and what their customers expect.
Let’s start with job production. This method is used when a product is made one at a time, often designed specifically for a customer. Each job is unique, and work on the next one only begins once the previous one is finished. Think of a wedding cake baker who designs each cake based on a customer’s theme, or a carpenter who builds custom furniture. The big advantages are that job production allows for high quality and personalisation, and workers usually find it motivating because they are using skill and creativity. But the downside is that it is expensive and time consuming. You need skilled workers, and because each job is different, you cannot take advantage of bulk production.
Next, we have batch production. In this method, products are made in groups or batches, and once one batch is finished, the business can switch to another. For example, imagine a bakery making one batch of chocolate muffins, then cleaning the equipment and starting a batch of blueberry muffins. This method offers some economies of scale because you are producing more than one item, and it is more flexible than job production. However, it can still be inefficient because time is lost when switching between batches, and it may require extra storage space for finished goods or materials.
Now let’s move to flow production. Flow production is all about continuous production, where large numbers of identical products are made along an assembly line. You will see this in industries like car manufacturing or soft drink bottling. The biggest benefit is efficiency. Flow production allows for low unit costs, high output, and consistent quality. Machines and workers repeat the same process, so everything moves smoothly from one stage to the next. But this system needs a huge investment in machinery, it is not flexible, and the work can be repetitive for employees.
Then we have mass customisation, which is a modern approach that combines the best of both worlds: the efficiency of mass production and the personalisation of job production. A great example is Nike, which lets customers personalise their shoes online by choosing colours and styles, but still uses standard production systems to make them efficiently. The advantage is that customers get something unique while the business still benefits from economies of scale. However, it is a complex and costly system to set up because it requires advanced technology and flexible manufacturing.
Sometimes, businesses decide to change their operations method, for example, moving from batch production to flow production. But this is not easy. It can be expensive as new machines or software may be needed. Employees might need training, and production could be disrupted during the transition. Some workers may even resist change, especially if they fear automation could replace their jobs.
So, to sum up today’s lesson: job production is best for unique, custom products. Batch production is good for medium quantities with some flexibility. Flow production suits large scale, standardised goods. Mass customisation allows personalisation on a large scale using technology.
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to describe these four methods, give examples, and explain which might suit different types of businesses. Remember, choosing the right method can make all the difference in cost, quality, and customer satisfaction.
