CLASSIFICATION OF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The classification of production systems takes into account both the type of product and the production process, as well as the volume and variety of products that are generated.

A production system is a manufacturing subsystem that includes all the functions required to design, produce, distribute, and supply a manufactured product. These systems consist of three main components: revenue, conversion processes, and bottom line.

Revenues include all raw materials, machines, human labor, among other items of that type.

The conversion process includes the production processes, whether manual, mechanical, or chemical. And the result is the final product; that is, the finished parts or services.

Basically a production system is the result of combining income with conversion processes to obtain a result based on logic and functions.

These systems fail if any arrangement made does not provide the desired level of result.

Classification of production systems

1- According to the type of product and the production process

Process manufacturing

It occurs when the raw material of which the final product is composed cannot be separated.

These products are manufactured using formulas and recipes. The processes used are continuous by nature or occur for a defined period of time.

Examples of process manufacturing include organic and non-organic chemicals like paints and acids, processed food products like juices, cement, pharmaceuticals, polymers, and more.

Discreet manufacturing

It is the production of identifiable distinctive product units. The final product can be produced in one part or in multiple parts.

The processes used are not continuous and each process can be started or stopped individually; allows to have different production frequencies.

These processes allow an area to be temporarily suspended without affecting the entire unit.

Cars, electrical equipment, and consumer electronics are examples of this type of manufacturing.

Manufacturing by projects

This system is designed to manufacture very complex, large, expensive, and highly customized products that take a long time to complete. For that reason manufacturing needs to be managed as a project.

In many cases, products are built and installed at their final site due to transportation restrictions.

Examples of this type of manufacturing include buildings, power plants, chemical plants, airplanes, boats, among others.

2- According to the volume and variety of manufactured products

Mass production

This method is used for the production of standardized products in large volumes. It is characterized by having a large volume and a limited variety.

The machines involved are arranged in a line; there is standardization of products or processes, and all final products are made the same.

It applies to various types of products: from fluids and bulk particles (food, fuel, chemicals) to discrete solid parts (industrial tools and equipment, household appliances).

This type of production can be subdivided into three types: continuous manufacturing, manufacturing flow or repetitive manufacturing.

Continuous manufacturing is used to manufacture, produce, or process materials without interruption. Raw materials go through a sequence of continuous processes to produce the final product.

The result is not separate end-product units, but rather bulk quantities of powders, fluids, or gases.

A wide variety of items are produced using continuous manufacturing. This method usually operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with annual or semi-annual maintenance, as in refineries or chemical plants.

Paper, cement, fertilizers, synthetic fibers, and natural gas processing fall into this category.

In the case of the manufacturing flow, the product is built through multiple distinctive processes that are integrated in a specific sequence and optimally balanced, so that there is time to perform all the steps.

Its main objective is to reduce the loss of time between steps in a process, which occurs when it is produced in batches. Therefore, the lot size in this category is one unit.

To handle the variety of products, similar elements are grouped into product families, and then a separate production line is assembled for each family.

An example of this is the automobile assembly line, which further divides the production line for sub-assemblies and components.

For its part, repetitive manufacturing is used to manufacture products whose processes involve a single operation or a sequence of operations in rapid sequence, without any waiting time between steps.

Aluminum bottle caps, small foils for electric lighters, and blow molding of plastic bottles fall into this category.

Serial production

In this type of manufacturing identical products are processed in groups or batches and not on a continuous manufacturing basis. Products are moved from one step to another in groups.

This method is used when the volume of market demand is not sufficient to justify continuous manufacturing. It is characterized by a moderate volume and a high variety.

Since the requirement is not to produce a limited variety in large volumes, the machines used are general purpose and can be used to process a wide variety of similar products.

Bread and biscuit manufacturing, prepackaged meals, and garment production are all done in mass production.

Custom manufacturing

This method involves the production of products in small quantities based on non-standard requirements and specific customer orders.

It has its roots in artisan production; Products manufactured for a customer may not have another order renewal.

A build to order consists of general purpose machines arranged in different departments.

Each job has unique technological requirements, which are processed on the machines in a certain sequence.

Jobs are executed as a project, rather than a standard product with fixed materials and accounts.

Crafting the railings for a specific home, making flower arrangements at a wedding, designing an advertising campaign, or building a new factory fall into this category.

Due to this, it is characterized by a small volume and a fairly large variety.

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