The product development process of manufacturing where there was a big open warehouse filled with rows of assembly lines is becoming more antiquated by the day.
Manufacturing processes now use technology and automation in the product development lifecycle.
There are many types of manufacturing depending on both the product, volume, technology, and human involvement.
Read on to learn about several different types of manufacturing processes commonly used in today’s manufacturing marketplace.
Repetitive Manufacturing
Repetitive manufacturing is commonly seen in large assembly line type manufacturing. It would be common to use this type of manufacturing for mass production items. This might include:
- Electronics
- Automotive
- Semiconductor
- Durable consumer goods
This type of manufacturing can run 24/7 and produce similar items over and over. It requires minimal setup for the process.
Some of this type of manufacturing might use specialized equipment in the manufacturing process. The index table benefits the process with speed, control, safety, and precision.
Discrete Manufacturing
Discrete manufacturing is similar to repetitive manufacturing. It uses the assembly line or production line setup.
The key difference between repetitive and discrete manufacturing has to do with setup and changeover.
Discrete manufacturing is designed with the idea of a variety of setups and frequent changeovers.
Different product models might require the setup of the line. Of course, in this type of manufacturing, there’s the potential for higher costs. Each time a changeover is needed, there are costs in the form of time, labor, and resources.
Job Shop Manufacturing
Job shop manufacturing focuses on producing products in smaller batches. Unlike the other processes, it won’t use the traditional assembly-line approach.
Instead, this type of manufacturing is more likely to use production areas to manufacture. Often the products are made-to-order (MTO) or made-to-stock (MTS), depending on the volume.
In some cases, the job shop manufacturing is set up to assemble one-of-a-kind products or small volume orders using specific workstations for assembly to meet demand.
Continuous Process Manufacturing
Continuous process manufacturing is similar to repetitive manufacturing in that the products can be produced continuously through the system.
The key difference is the type of materials used in the manufacturing process. For this type of manufacturing, gasses, liquids, powders, and slurries would be used for the product instead of solid-state materials.
You might commonly see this type of manufacturing in pharmaceuticals, paper, and fertilizers.
Batch Process Manufacturing
Batch process manufacturing is more like discrete or job shop manufacturing. It differs from repetitive or continuous manufacturing.
As the name suggests, the product manufactured here is done in batches. A batch is produced based on the demand, then the equipment is cleaned and stopped until another batch order is in place.
Manufacturing Processes Found in the Manufacturing Industry
Each of these manufacturing processes is unique. You would use them depending on the product, materials, and resources you have available.
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