Production cycle

Production cycle is used in two meanings:

• broad: a production process that begins with raw materials and ends with finished product,
• narrow: time period of the production process from raw materials to finished product.

The broad meaning is equal to concept of production process, while the narrow one describes production cycle itself as described here.

Elements of production cycle

Production cycle can be divided into:

• working period,
• break (rest) period.

Working period

• technological operations,
• natural processes,
• inspection operations,
• maintenance operations,
• transport,
• storage.

Fig. 1. The production cycle is time period of production process

Break period

• breaks arising from the organization of the production process, including:
  • waiting time in magazines,
  • waiting in connection with the batch processing,
  • waiting in anticipation of the release of workplace.
• breaks arising from the organization of the working day, including:
  • including changes of employees
  • scheduling breaks
  • non-working days and holidays,
• other breaks.

Documents and methods used in production cycle planning and control

Following documents are used during production cycle design:

• bill of materials,
• operations list,
• production orders,
• material and equipment orders,
• machine configuration,

Production cycle often involves various IT systems and management methods, such as:

• Manufacturing resource planning (MRP-II)
• Lean manufacturing
• Master production schedule (MPS)
• Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM)
• Process management,
• Quality management,
• Activity-based costing, etc.

See also:

• Determining the length of the production cycle
• Optimization of the production run-length
• Serial production

Examples of Production cycle

1. Production Cycle in Manufacturing: This is the process of transforming raw materials into a finished product through a series of steps such as production planning, procuring materials, production, assembling, packaging and distribution. An example of a production cycle in manufacturing is the automobile assembly line, where raw materials such as metal and plastic are transformed into finished automobiles.
2. Production Cycle in Software Development: This is the process of developing a software product from initial concept to final product. It includes activities such as requirements gathering, system design, coding, testing, and documentation. An example of a production cycle in software development is the Agile software development method where software is developed in small increments, with frequent feedback from customers.

Advantages of Production cycle

The production cycle is a process used by businesses to ensure the smooth and efficient production of goods and services. It encompasses a variety of activities, from the design phase to the delivery of a finished product. The following are some of the advantages of implementing a production cycle:

• Planning: A production cycle helps to plan and organize the production process by breaking it down into manageable stages. This helps to ensure that all materials, resources and personnel are available when needed, thus avoiding delays in the production process.
• Efficiency: With a well-organized production cycle, the production process is streamlined and more efficient, allowing for faster and smoother completion of tasks.
• Quality Control: By breaking tasks into manageable chunks, it is easier to identify potential problems and rectify them quickly. This helps to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality.
• Cost Savings: By streamlining the production process, production cycles can reduce the cost of manufacturing and ensure that resources are used to the best effect.
• Improved Communication: Production cycles can also help to improve communication between departments within an organization, as tasks can be tracked from one stage to the next. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that tasks are completed in a timely manner.

Limitations of Production cycle

In general, the production cycle is used to refer to the entire process of production from the initial planning stage to the finished product. In a more specific sense, the production cycle is used to refer to the steps of production taken within a single product or production run. Regardless of the context, there are several limitations to the production cycle that must be considered in order to ensure an effective and efficient production process. These limitations include:

• Time: Production cycles can take an extensive amount of time, depending on the complexity of the process, the number of components involved, and the number of steps taken.
• Cost: Production cycles can be costly, as they require resources, such as materials, labor, and machinery.
• Quality control: Quality control measures must be implemented to ensure that the product meets the intended standards.
• Safety: The safety of production personnel must be taken into account to ensure a safe working environment.
• Environment: Production cycles can have an impact on the environment, so environmental regulations must be taken into account.

Other approaches related to Production cycle

Production cycle is used in two meanings: the first one is associated with the cycle of operations and activities necessary to produce a product or deliver a service, while the second one is associated with the cycle of phases that a product goes through from its conception to its end of life. Other approaches related to the production cycle include:

• Just-in-Time (JIT) Manufacturing - this approach attempts to reduce inventory and costs by having materials arrive just before they are needed in the production process.
• Total Quality Management (TQM) - this approach focuses on improving the quality of production processes by consistently meeting customer requirements and improving overall efficiency.
• Lean Manufacturing - this approach seeks to reduce waste, improve efficiency and increase customer satisfaction by eliminating any non-value-added activities.
• Six Sigma - this approach uses a data-driven methodology to identify and reduce variations in processes to improve quality and increase efficiency.

In conclusion, production cycle is an important concept in the manufacturing industry and is related to various approaches, such as Just-in-Time (JIT) Manufacturing, Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma. Each of these approaches seeks to improve production quality and efficiency.

Production cycle — recommended articles

Single minute exchange of die — Production process — 7 wastes of lean — Organization of production — Continuous process — Total productive maintenance — Cycle time — Production line — Line balancing

References

• Cadenillas, A., Lakner, P., & Pinedo, M. (2013). Optimal production management when demand depends on the business cycle. Operations Research, 61(4), 1046-1062.
• Chase, R. B., & Aquilano, N. J. (1992). Production and operations management: A life cycle approach (6th ed., p. 186-7). Homewood, IL: Irwin.
• Chase, R. B., Aquilano, N. J., & Jacobs, F. R. (1995). Production and operations management: manufacturing and services.
• Lee, J. S., & Park, K. S. (1991). Joint determination of production cycle and inspection intervals in a deteriorating production system. Journal of the operational Research Society, 775-783.
• Umeda Y, Nonomura A, Tomiyama T (2000). Study on life-cycle design for the post mass production paradigm, Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing, 14:2
• Production cycle in Statoil (PDF)