One Off Production
Description: One off production is where an item is made to the specification of a client.
For example; wedding dresses, one of a kind furniture, bars.
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Batch Production
Description: this is where a set number of products are manufactured at one time. The product may be changed slightly and then the same number of products is manufactured again before stopping and being changed again.
For example; garments like t-shirts (the pattern, materials or size might be changed each time), bread, coloured plastic cups.
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Mass Production
Description: this is where a very large number of products are manufactured. Often in a production line.
For example; socks and jeans, bottles, plastic knives and forks.
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Continuous Production
Description: this is like mass production except it never stops.
For example; for products where demand never stops, for example paper.
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Just In Time Production
Description: this is where a company buys the materials and gets them delivered to the factory just in time for them to be used and made into products. Once made the products are sent as new materials come in.
For example; cars, electrical products.
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Tolerance Keywords
What are Tolerances?
When a product is manufactured in large numbers by batch or continuous production it is almost impossible to ensure that each individually finished product is exactly the same. Each finished product may look the same but there will be very small differences. For example, look at the soldiers on the left - they will likely be batch produced in 1000s.Each hand made soldier will differ very slightly in its size and shape due to the way it has been manufactured. |
Why are Tolerances Important?
If a product is out of tolerance then it could be dangerous—think of car tyres for example, if the rubber isn’t the correct thickness it could increase stopping distance and have very nasty consequences. |
How to Check Tolerances
Digital vernier calipers are one of the most accurate measuring devices. Due to their accuracy you can check whether products are within tolerence, for example say the tolerence is 75mm up to 76mm. If it is outside these measurements (tolerance) it will be rejected. If the measurement was 75.5mm it would be within tolerence, so would be kept. |