Unitary production
Unitary production (job shop production, one-off production) is one of many types of organization of production processes. It involves manufacture of unique items, on which market demand is small, usually one, at most two pieces alike. In such process each product unit is closed whole. Company produces a single item or multiple items of the same type. In this type of production, machine centre performs an unlimited number of operations, which usually do not repeat or repeat rarely, mostly in irregular and unpredictable intervals. In unitary production system little time elapses between the decision to produce and its results.
It is characterized by the high cost of manufacturing of a single product, exceeding several times the cost of the same product made in mass production. This type of production is very labour-intensive. Companies use universal machinery and equipment, because with them it can perform a variety of operations. Utilization of these machines is relatively small. Employees must possess high technical qualifications, because they perform a variety of operations, changing along with the change of the product. The production range is very wide, characterized by a limited repeatability.
Advantages and disadvantages of unitary manufacturing
Advantages:
- the ability to make small amount of unique product,
- highly qualified crew,
- the ability to adjust the level of employment to economic fluctuations,
- flexibility of production.
Disadvantages:
- long time to complete,
- large unit costs,
- lack of specialization.
Examples of Unitary production
- Customized furniture and jewelry: Unitary production is ideal for producing unique items such as furniture and jewelry. For instance, a furniture maker may be commissioned to create a one-of-a-kind piece for a customer. The maker will create a design based on the customer’s specifications, cut the materials to size, sand and assemble the piece, and finish it with paint or stain. Similarly, a jewelry maker may be asked to create a custom ring with a specific gemstone and setting. The jewelry maker will design the ring, cut and set the stone, and finish the ring with a polish.
- Automotive restoration: Unitary production is also useful for restoring classic or vintage cars. A car restorer may be asked to bring a classic car back to its original condition. The restorer will disassemble the car, inspect and repair all components, and reassemble the car. The final product will be a car that looks and functions as it did when it left the factory.
- Customized software applications: Unitary production is also used to create customized software applications. A software developer may be asked to create a program that meets the specific needs of a customer. The developer will develop the software from scratch, adding the features and functionality that the customer requires. The final product will be a custom-made application that is tailored to the customer’s needs.
- Mass production: Mass production is a production method in which large numbers of identical items are produced in a short period of time, usually by assembly line workers. It is based on the principle of repetitive processes and division of labour, with all the items produced on the assembly line being identical.
- Lean production: Lean production is a production system that minimizes waste and maximizes efficiency. It is based on the Toyota Production System and focuses on eliminating waste in all aspects of production. It emphasizes the reduction of setup times, streamlining of movements, and improved workflow.
- Just-in-time production: Just-in-time production is a production system where materials and components are delivered promptly and in the right quantities so that production is not disrupted. It's goal is to reduce inventory and increase efficiency.
In summary, Unitary production is one of many approaches to organizing production processes. Other approaches include mass production, lean production and just-in-time production, each of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. Unitary production is suitable in situations where market demand is small, and where processing time is short.
| Unitary production — recommended articles |
| Mass production — Serial production — Production line — Production rhythm — Group technology — Job shop — Continuous process — Work cycle — Nested production |
References
- Askin, R. G., & Standridge, C. R. (1993). Modeling and analysis of manufacturing systems. John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- Cochran, D. S., Arinez, J. F., Duda, J. W., & Linck, J. (2002). A decomposition approach for manufacturing system design. Journal of manufacturing systems, 20(6), 371-389.
- Gunasekaran, A., Martikainen, T., & Yli-Olli, P. (1993). Flexible manufacturing systems: An investigation for research and applications. European journal of operational research, 66(1), 1-26.
- Seidmann, A., & Nof, S. Y. (1985). Unitary manufacturing cell design with random product feedback flow. IIE transactions, 17(2), 188-193.
Singh, N., & Rajamani, D. (2012). Cellular manufacturing systems: design, planning and control. Springer Science & Business Media.
