Production lines are set to produce the same product, often 24 hours a day, continuously, with the expectation that demand will meet supply. Otherwise known simply as ‘mass manufacture’, continuous manufacturing is what laypeople tend to think of as manufacturing. Clothing is a large-scale example which is often produced intermittently responding to demand of particular designs. Although machinery is often utilized, intermittent manufacturers commonly rely on skilled workers able to switch between different products. Intermittent manufacturing can also be thought of as batch production-limited runs of similar products, usually to fulfill specific orders. Tailored suits, handmade furniture, and wedding cakes are all good examples. It is a relative rarity in modern society, usually reserved for high-end variants of common products.
Here, we'll focus on the mid-level definition: the different systems on which plant infrastructure is based, whether process or discrete.Īll manufacturing falls under one of these five major manufacturing systems, running the gamut from bespoke products through mass manufacture to modern mass customization.Ĭustom manufacturing describes the production of bespoke products, made to order, usually by a skilled craftsperson. The latter is a chemical transformation such as food and pharmaceuticals.Īt the other end of the manufacturing systems spectrum are advanced methodologies like lean manufacturing, which aims to eliminate inefficiency in the process. Broadly, the former is assemblies of standardized parts, that could be disassembled later-things like cars and computers. Manufacturing systems can refer to the top-level distinction between discrete and process manufacturing.
This post will dive into the different approaches to manufacturing products, and which manufacturing systems are suitable for which purposes.
Various manufacturing systems have developed over time, driven by product design, economics, and technology.
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