Production Line
What is a production line?
A production line is a series of steps where a product moves from one workstation to the next, with each station performing a specific task.
What is continuous flow production?
A method where products are made nonstop without interruptions
Define custom manufacturing.
Custom manufacturing creates products tailored to a customer’s specific needs
What are fixed processes in production?
Be Specific!
Production methods where the product stays in one place and workers/equipment come to it
Who created the assembly line?
Name one advantage of using a production line.
Accept one of the following:
Increases production speed
Lowers labor costs
Improves consistency and product quality
Allows large-scale (mass) production
Reduces human error
Makes production more organized and efficient
Give an example of a product that uses continuous flow production
Petroleum (or many forms of natural resource extraction), chemicals, paper, or electricity
What is the biggest key characteristic of custom manufacturing?
What types of products and or businesses typically use fixed processes?
Accept one of the following:
Repair shops, planes, ships, buildings, or custom machinery.
Which company has the largest trucking fleet for deliveries?
Walmart with over 9000 vehicles and 80,000+ employees
Name an industry that often uses production lines.
Automotive, electronics, food processing, and appliance manufacturing
What is the main advantage of continuous flow over batch production?
Higher efficiency and lower cost per unit because the process never stops
Name an industry that relies heavily on custom manufacturing
Accept one of the following: Construction, furniture making, medical prosthetics or artisanship.
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of fixed processes
Advantage: (ACCEPT ONE) Consistency or Predictability
Disadvantage: Lack of flexibility or adaptability.
What Japanese based company revolutionized production by minimizing waste and focusing on efficeincy?
Toyota with its TPS manufacturing strategy.
In what situation is a production line most effective?
When a company needs to produce large volumes of identical products
Explain the difference between continuous flow and production line
A production line has steps but may stop; continuous flow runs nonstop and is used for products that can’t be easily divided into units
How does custom manufacturing differ from mass production?
Hint: Be specific, what do each try to achieve?
Mass production makes large quantities of uniform items; custom manufacturing makes unique or small-batch items.
What is the biggest downfall of fixed processes?
Accept one: Innovation in technology, changing consumer demands, or any answer that talks about adaptation to the market.
What company has the most complex supply chain in the world?
Hint: You can buy product from this company from almost anywhere on earth.
Coca-Cola with operations in over 200 countries.
How does automation/AI impact production lines?
Accept one of the following: Increases speed, reduces labor costs, improves accuracy, or minimizes human error.
Discuss the challenges of continuous flow production
Accept one of the following: It is expensive, difficult to stop or adjust, requires skilled maintenance, or the fact that equipment failure can halt the entire system
What is a drawback to custom manufacturing?
Accept one of the following: Inefficiency, labor intensive, time consumption.
Provide an example of a company that uses fixed processes effectively.
Accept one: Airplane companies (Boeing), Car manufacturing companies such as Toyota, or any auto repair shop.
What world wide event caused the largest supply chain disruption since WWII?
Covid-19.