The Different Types of Manufacturing Processes That Exist Today
Did you know that exported goods that were manufactured in the United States of America added more than $1.2 trillion to the United States economy? Most people have heard of the manufacturing industry. Many don’t realize that there are many types of manufacturing that get used for producing the goods that people use on a daily basis.
There are a lot of factors that play into determining the best manufacturer. The most effective manufacturing companies are the ones that use all of the product development process.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the manufacturing process and the types of manufacturing used around the world today then you’re in luck. You’ve come to the perfect place to learn about the most effective types of manufacturing today.
Keep reading for more.
Job Shop Manufacturing
Job shop manufacturing is different than other types of manufacturing. It uses different production areas around the assembly plant rather than implementing an assembly line. It is the perfect option for producing smaller batches of products rather than manufacturing on a large scale.
If you’re planning on making custom products then going with job shop manufacturing might be your best option. You’ll encounter some potential clients or customers that want made-to-order products. If you’re going to help these clients out then your best bet is to try out job shop manufacturing.
Machine shops often choose to go with job shop manufacturing. It allows for a lot more flexibility when it comes to adding the finishing touches to custom products. The growth of technology has allowed manufacturing plants to start using job shop manufacturing software. This makes the process more efficient.
If your factory or manufacturing plant is starting to scale up and take on more projects then you should look into changing to repetitive manufacturing instead of job shop manufacturing. You’ll get great use of automation by making this switch. You can take steps to learn more.
Repetitive Manufacturing
Repetitive manufacturing is a great option if your manufacturing plant is focused on making the same product at a consistent rate. You’ll have dedicated production lines all around your factory. They’re focused on creating the same product in their product development lifecycle.
Your workers will become experts at working on the particular part or component that they’re responsible for. They’ll spend their workday creating that part each day. They’ll make that component all day during their shift and all throughout the year. This is a great option because it allows for flexibility when it comes to meeting the demands and needs of your clients and customers.
Repetitive manufacturing is popular with factories that produce electronic goods. It is also great for automobiles and big appliances like refrigerators. These processes allow the factories to produce all of the vital components at a consistent rate for the best efficiency.
Discrete Manufacturing
Another one of the types of manufacturing is discrete manufacturing. Discrete manufacturing is similar to repetitive manufacturing. It uses assembly lines to produce goods. Still, it has much more diversity when it comes down to how this type of manufacturing works.
You’ll have no problems with frequent changes and variations to what you’re manufacturing if you choose to go with this type of manufacturing at your plant. This means that you can implement multiple styles and different modification options depending on what your customers want.
One thing to keep in mind with discrete manufacturing is that these added variations tend to add more time to the production process. You’ll have extra time spent getting everything set up and making the customizations to the products that you’re making.
Discrete manufacturing is a great fit for manufacturers that focus on making aircraft and automobiles. It is also popular for companies that make clothing and medical devices.
Batch Process Manufacturing
Batch process manufacturing is a bit of a hybrid when it comes to the types of manufacturing today. It is a mix between discrete manufacturing and job shop manufacturing.
Batch process manufacturing is driven by the needs and demands of your customers. It’s also driven by the availability of the resources that you need in order to continue creating products for them. It is effective if you have what you need to fill one of your orders for a client.
You can take your machinery apart and clean it or provide maintenance for it until the next batch comes in. Once the next order comes in, you’ll have everything ready to go in order to meet that client’s needs.
Batch process manufacturing is popular for a number of different companies. Food production companies love it because their resources don’t go to waste or spoil. It is also popular with the newspaper printing industry and the bookbinding industry.
Continuous Process Manufacturing
Continuous process manufacturing is different from the other options in this article. This option runs constantly. Every day of every year the factory will produce the goods that are needed by the customer or client. This process is usually focused more on producing useful resources out of raw materials.
You’ll find this type of manufacturing is quite popular with businesses like oil refineries. It is also great for metal smelting, and paper production.
3D Printing
3D printing has gained a ton of popularity as one of the best types of manufacturing available. You can make almost anything with 3D printing since it uses a variety of plastics and composites to make different 3D objects and tools.
This method uses digital models to create goods rather than making use of human labor. You can make anything from prosthetic limbs to medical devices. You can also make buildings and firearms when you use 3D printing at your manufacturing plant.
Now You Know the Types of Manufacturing
There are many different options that you can choose from if you’re looking at the types of manufacturing for your factory or assembly plant. The most difficult part is finding the best manufacturing process for your client’s needs. 3D printing is the most flexible while job shop manufacturing is great for producing small batches of customized goods.
For more helpful articles, make sure you check out our blog.
