Flow production
Soft drinks on a production line - an example of flow production
Flow production is also known as continuous production. It enables a product to be created in a series of stages on.an A series of workers and machines in a factory by which a succession of similar items is progressively assembled..
It is defined by the continuous movement of items through the production process. Large numbers of the same goods are produced continuously in this production process. There is often an opportunity for a high level of automation on a flow production assembly line.
Some examples:
- car assembly plant
- bottling plant
- bicycle production line
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Economies of scale can be achieved as cost per unit will be low | No customisation, customers unable to obtain bespoke products specific to their individual needs and wants |
| Automated assembly lines save time and money | High initial set-up costs of automated assembly lines |
| Quality systems can be built into the production at each stage | Workers find work repetitive and boring |
| Advantages | Economies of scale can be achieved as cost per unit will be low |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | No customisation, customers unable to obtain bespoke products specific to their individual needs and wants |
| Advantages | Automated assembly lines save time and money |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | High initial set-up costs of automated assembly lines |
| Advantages | Quality systems can be built into the production at each stage |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Workers find work repetitive and boring |
