The artisan technical process is represented by the stages a product goes through during its production. This is achieved through the transformation of one or more raw materials. It can be a manual or mechanical process.
In a technical artisan process, each product obtained has unique and statistically unrepeatable qualities.
In this type of processes the human being takes part totally or partially; for this reason there may be variations in the final product, especially when the manufacturing is in series.
When the process is carried out in this non-standardized way, the margins of error must be flexible, since the quality of the product can vary considerably.
Crafts in an industrialized process
In an artisanal technical process, the transformation of the materials occurs to obtain some good or service.
But compared to an industrialized process, the volume of production is lower, and in the long run manufacturing can be more expensive if measured by labor.
Statistically, it can be determined that the largest companies in the world began their production processes partially or totally in an artisanal way.
This situation is due to the fact that the initial investment is always lower. Once the manufactured product begins to generate profits, they can be reinvested in the process to achieve its automation.
In an artisanal manufacturing process, the products are normally offered on a small scale, without the use of large distribution chains to commercialize the final product.
Quality systems associated with manufacturing can be implemented in these processes. However, the final finish will depend on each worker who has intervened in the process.
The low impact on the environment is also a favorable element of an artisan technical process, since machinery with low electricity consumption is generally used; no oil or gas based machinery is required.
The management of waste and pollution factors are easier for this type of company.
A product obtained under such a process can be much more expensive than another product of similar characteristics that uses automated machinery throughout the manufacturing process.
Labor costs and worker benefits, as well as production volume, affect the total cost of the final product.
Examples of craft processes
- A cattle farm where milk is extracted from the cows by the traditional milking system. The milk goes through several processes before being packaged for the final consumer.
- The elaboration of different fabrics by hand, to obtain objects or articles for domestic use.
- A small bakery where kneading machinery is not used.
References
- Camarinha-Matos, LM (2013). Re-engineering for Sustainable Industrial Production: Proceedings of the OE / IFIP / IEEE International Conference on Integrated and Sustainable Industrial Production Lisbon, Portugal, May 1997. Lisbon, Portugal: Springer.
- Hess, LM (2009). Artisanal Theology: Intentional Formation in Radically Covenantal Companionship. Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers.
- Pablo Cortés Achedad, LO (2011). Organization engineering: Models and applications. Madrid: Díaz de Santos Editions.
- Peña, WB (2001). Marketing notes for rural microenterprises. Santiago de Chile: IICA Library Venezuela.
- Sacristán, FR (2001). Comprehensive maintenance manual in the company. Madrid: FC Editorial.