Process Types and Performance Objectives
Author: Berni Brain
, Manufacturing Process Types
Project Processes Jobbing Processes Batch Processes Mass Processes Continuous Processes
• Discreet, highly • Usually physically • Looks like Jobbing but • products are almost • Almost never stops
customised products smaller products, doesn’t have same (but not quite) the • Performs only one
• long timescale between requiring considerable degree of variety same, and made in tasks
completion of each item skill • Batches produce more large quantities • Often, only notice the
• VOL: Very Low • Series of items made all than one item at a time • VOL: High process if something
• VAR: Very High has its own specific • All batches go through • VAR: Low goes wrong
needs same sequence • TASKS: Repetitive • VOL: Very High
• TASKS:
Diverse/Complex • Processes shares • VOL: wide • FLOW: Predictable • VAR: Very Low
operation’s resources range/moderate
• FLOW: Intermittent • Examples: • TASKS: Repeated
• VOL: Low • VAR: wide
• Examples: • automobile assembly • FLOW: Continuous
• VAR: High range/moderate process/lines
• Software Design • Examples:
• TASKS: Relatively • TASKS: diverse-to- • frozen food production
• Movie Production • Water treatment plant
Complex Repeated (middle)
• Construction • automatic packing • petrochemical
• FLOW: Regular • FLOW: intermitt-to- lines refineries
becoming more continuous (middle)
• TV and DVD factories • electricity utilities
important • Examples:
• Examples: • steel making
• Kitchen food prep
• Custom Furniture • paper making
• Gourmet frozen foods
• Made-to-Measure • Manufacture of
Tailors component parts (to
• Precision Engineers go into mass-produced
and Toolmakers assemblies)
• Printer for Home
Affairs/Events
Author: Berni Brain
, Manufacturing Process Types
Project Processes Jobbing Processes Batch Processes Mass Processes Continuous Processes
• Discreet, highly • Usually physically • Looks like Jobbing but • products are almost • Almost never stops
customised products smaller products, doesn’t have same (but not quite) the • Performs only one
• long timescale between requiring considerable degree of variety same, and made in tasks
completion of each item skill • Batches produce more large quantities • Often, only notice the
• VOL: Very Low • Series of items made all than one item at a time • VOL: High process if something
• VAR: Very High has its own specific • All batches go through • VAR: Low goes wrong
needs same sequence • TASKS: Repetitive • VOL: Very High
• TASKS:
Diverse/Complex • Processes shares • VOL: wide • FLOW: Predictable • VAR: Very Low
operation’s resources range/moderate
• FLOW: Intermittent • Examples: • TASKS: Repeated
• VOL: Low • VAR: wide
• Examples: • automobile assembly • FLOW: Continuous
• VAR: High range/moderate process/lines
• Software Design • Examples:
• TASKS: Relatively • TASKS: diverse-to- • frozen food production
• Movie Production • Water treatment plant
Complex Repeated (middle)
• Construction • automatic packing • petrochemical
• FLOW: Regular • FLOW: intermitt-to- lines refineries
becoming more continuous (middle)
• TV and DVD factories • electricity utilities
important • Examples:
• Examples: • steel making
• Kitchen food prep
• Custom Furniture • paper making
• Gourmet frozen foods
• Made-to-Measure • Manufacture of
Tailors component parts (to
• Precision Engineers go into mass-produced
and Toolmakers assemblies)
• Printer for Home
Affairs/Events
