Did you know that there are over 248,039 manufacturing firms in the United States? With this large of an industry, it can be difficult to choose what manufacturer is best for your business.
You can break down the search by choosing the manufacturing process that works best for your consumers. First, you’ll need to know the different types of manufacturing processes.
Read on to learn them.
Job Shop Manufacturing
Job shop manufacturing uses different production areas and not an assembly line. Often, it is used for small-batch custom products for certain clients or customers.
A workstation might focus on one particular product to offer the ability to customize the final product. Machine shops use this type of manufacturing to make local machinery. For example, laser cutting is a part of job shop manufacturing.
Repetitive Manufacturing
Repetitive manufacturing works best for processes that are repeated and have to meet a certain production rate. Production lines all work on the same product or component each day throughout the year.
There is little change between setups so companies can match operating speeds to customer demands.
Discrete Manufacturing
This type of manufacturing also uses an assembly line for product development. It is more diverse than repetitive manufacturing and allows for frequent variation and changeover.
Through discrete manufacturing, a company can have different styles, modifications, and sizes for a product. Production might take longer if extra setup or removal is necessary.
Manufacturing processes like this work best for companies that produce medical devices, toys, clothing, and smartphones.
Batch Process Manufacturing
Another one of the types of manufacturing processes is the batch process. A small business owner benefits from this process because it shares similarities with job shop and discrete manufacturing processes.
Batch manufacturing is driven by consumer demand or the availability of raw materials. A manufacturing run might produce a batch to fill the client’s needs.
Newspaper printing, pharmaceuticals, and food production tend to rely on this type of manufacturing process.
Continuous Process Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry also consists of the continuous process type. This type of manufacturing runs the same all the time as repetitive manufacturing does.
This process focuses more on raw materials like powders, gases, or liquids. Paper production, oil refining, and some food products work best under this process.
3D Printing
Some industries now recognize the use of 3D printing as a manufacturing process. The widespread use of this process is due to the ease of printing various composites and materials.
It is a completely digital process that does not rely on physical labor or mechanization. Equipment manufacturers are now placing hundreds of thousands of 3D printed items on the market.
Manufacturing Processes That Business Owners Should Know
Whether you are a new business owner or have owned your own business for a while, understanding the different manufacturing processes is key to success.
Once you have your products in mind, you can decide which process will work best for your consumers. As your business grows, you might find that one manufacturing process will start to work better than another.
For more business knowledge, check out the other posts on our blog.
