Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-2-2-production-processes [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [IB Diploma](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma.md) › [Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business.md) › [Business Management: IB Diploma](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma.md) › Production Processes # Production Processes Business Management: IB Diploma, topic 5.2.2 ## Business Operations - Job Production In job production, items are made individually. The second item is not started until the first item is finished. ### Needs highly skilled labour ![Needs highly skilled labour](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/9e405d1e-4e0e-485f-81b2-f3512c5c4080/shutterstock_539932939.jpg) - Job production needs plenty of highly skilled workers (labour). - This means that it is often an expensive method of production because highly skilled workers tend to be paid more. ### High quality or customised items ![High quality or customised items](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/c138c4bc-a659-4735-9c91-17b7b7851ddf/shutterstock_339766613.jpg) - Job production is most appropriate for businesses that create high quality items and businesses that make customised products that meet a customer’s exact specification (design). ### Niches ![Niches](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/cc3f2558-bc55-4da7-8861-32bada9b6587/shutterstock_272489561.jpg) - Job production is also good for smaller markets or niches (small sections of a market). - This is because job production is very individual and isn’t meant to cater to a huge amount of customers. - Designer dresses, wedding cakes and handmade furniture are all examples of products built using job production. ## Flow Production In flow production, an assembly line is used to build identical and standardised products. ### Assembly line ![Assembly line](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/1be81f2e-9ffc-4100-ad78-f05bbd559cc6/shutterstock_587205803.jpg) - An assembly line is a series of workers and/or machines that each work on a specific part of the product. - Most tinned or packaged foods are manufactured using an assembly line. - Lots of the cars made by General Motors are also produced using this technique; so one after another, cars will get the chassis made and then the wheels added and then the steering wheel put in until the car is finished. ### Capital intensive ![Capital intensive](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/803c2317-5ad8-4be2-b57e-e7e1214ae4d2/shutterstock_175765076.jpg) - Flow production is usually more capital-intensive, meaning that there is more machinery and less labour used in production. ### Mass market and low production cost ![Mass market and low production cost](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/775c9985-65f1-4167-b654-df2fcfd75d0a/shutterstock_161675321.jpg) - Flow production is best used in an industry that needs a low cost of production and provides for a large customer base. - If a company used job production for cars, then they would be less able to compete on the basis of price because they would have higher average costs. - Most mass market products like shampoo, cereal and coffee will be produced using flow production because it can cater for a higher volume of customers. ## Batch Production Batch production is similar to job production, but instead of making singular items, groups of items are made together. A baker making batches of loaves of bread is an example of batch production. ### Lower average costs than job production ![Lower average costs than job production](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/1c77a829-cc0d-4e7e-89c1-98ae83faca37/shutterstock_561677353.jpg) - Batch production usually has lower average costs than job production because small quantities are made together. - This means that overheads like electricity for a baking oven can be shared across more than one unit of output. ### Costs of switching production ![Costs of switching production](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/3abb4d3b-eceb-4c94-a6aa-3ce7ef183545/shutterstock_720608611.jpg) - When changing production, machines have to be washed down and this can be costly and time consuming. - For example, when Cadbury makes moulded chocolate bars that contain nuts (e.g. Fruit and Nut), the same machinery has to be washed and prepared to avoid cross-contamination. Otherwise, consumers that have nut allergies may become ill or die. ## Test yourself on Production Processes - Why is job production an expensive method of production? - Which of the following items is least likely to be made using job production? - What are the benefits of flow production? - Flow production is "capital intensive", what does this mean? - Shampoo is produced using an assembly line so that a large customer base can be catered for. What type of production is being used to produce shampoo? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/96f95cf2-8acd-4f01-87ce-ad02d9a86dab/section/c749679c-6fb2-4fca-bbde-4c3b4088e40f/session) - Previous topic: [5.2.1 Production Processes Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-2-1-production-processes-overview.md) - Next topic: [5.2.3 Production Efficiency](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-2-3-production-efficiency.md) ## Business Management: IB Diploma contents ### 1 Business Organisation & Environment - 1.1 Introduction to Business Management - [1.1.1 Why Businesses Exist & Sectors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-1-1-why-businesses-exist-and-sectors.md) - 1.2 Types of Organisation - [1.2.1 Sole Traders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-2-1-sole-traders.md) - [1.2.2 Limited Liability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-2-2-limited-liability.md) - [1.2.3 Non-Profit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-2-3-non-profit.md) - [1.2.4 Franchising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-2-4-franchising.md) - [1.2.5 End of Topic Test - Franchising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-2-5-end-of-topic-test-franchising.md) - 1.3 Organisational Objectives - [1.3.1 External Environments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-3-1-external-environments.md) - [1.3.2 Business Mission & Corporate Objective](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-3-2-business-mission-and-corporate-objective.md) - [1.3.3 Mission, Corporate Objectives & Strategy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-3-3-mission-corporate-objectives-and-strategy.md) - [1.3.4 SWOT Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-3-4-swot-analysis.md) - [1.3.5 End of Topic Test - SWOT Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-3-5-end-of-topic-test-swot-analysis.md) - 1.4 Stakeholders - [1.4.1 Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-4-1-stakeholders.md) - 1.5 External Environment - [1.5.1 Social & Technological Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-5-1-social-and-technological-environment.md) - [1.5.2 Lifestyle & Technological Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-5-2-lifestyle-and-technological-environment.md) - [1.5.3 Corporate Social Responsibility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-5-3-corporate-social-responsibility.md) - [1.5.4 Economic Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-5-4-economic-environment.md) - [1.5.5 Political & Legal Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-5-5-political-and-legal-change.md) - 1.6 Growth & Evolution - [1.6.1 Growth & Retrenchment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-1-growth-and-retrenchment.md) - [1.6.2 Challenges of Growth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-2-challenges-of-growth.md) - [1.6.3 Growth Models](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-3-growth-models.md) - [1.6.4 End of Topic Test - Diseconomies of Scale](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-4-end-of-topic-test-diseconomies-of-scale.md) - [1.6.5 Internationalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-5-internationalisation.md) - [1.6.6 Sourcing Resources & Entering Markets](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-6-sourcing-resources-and-entering-markets.md) - [1.6.7 End of Topic Test - Internationalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-7-end-of-topic-test-internationalisation.md) - [1.6.8 Managing Internationalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-8-managing-internationalisation.md) - [1.6.9 Impact of Internationalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-6-9-impact-of-internationalisation.md) - 1.7 HL Only: Organisational Planning Tools - [1.7.1 Organisational Planning Tools](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/1-7-1-organisational-planning-tools.md) ### 2 Human Resource Management - 2.1 Functions & Evolution of Human Resource Management - [2.1.1 Setting Human Resource Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-1-1-setting-human-resource-objectives.md) - [2.1.2 Human Resource Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-1-2-human-resource-management.md) - [2.1.3 Labour Turnover & Retention](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-1-3-labour-turnover-and-retention.md) - [2.1.4 Labour Productivity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-1-4-labour-productivity.md) - 2.2 Organisational Structure - [2.2.1 Organisational Structures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-2-1-organisational-structures.md) - 2.3 Leadership & Management - [2.3.1 Managers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-3-1-managers.md) - [2.3.2 Management Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-3-2-management-theories.md) - [2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-3-3-end-of-topic-test-management.md) - 2.4 Motivation - [2.4.1 Motivating & Engaging Employees](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-4-1-motivating-and-engaging-employees.md) - [2.4.2 Taylor's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-4-2-taylors-theory.md) - [2.4.3 Maslow's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-4-3-maslows-theory.md) - [2.4.4 Herzberg's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-4-4-herzbergs-theory.md) - [2.4.5 Different Incentives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-4-5-different-incentives.md) - [2.4.6 Evaluating Incentives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-4-6-evaluating-incentives.md) - 2.5 Organisational (Corporate) Culture - [2.5.1 Managing Organisational Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-5-1-managing-organisational-culture.md) - [2.5.2 Organisational Structures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-5-2-organisational-structures.md) - 2.6 HL Only: Industrial/Employee Relations - [2.6.1 Improving Employer-Employee Relations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-6-1-improving-employer-employee-relations.md) - [2.6.2 Case Study - The Winter of Discontent](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/2-6-2-case-study-the-winter-of-discontent.md) ### 3 Finance & Accounts - 3.1 Sources of Finance - [3.1.1 Internal Sources of Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-1-1-internal-sources-of-finance.md) - [3.1.2 External Sources of Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-1-2-external-sources-of-finance.md) - [3.1.3 Factors for Financing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-1-3-factors-for-financing.md) - [3.1.4 End of Topic Test - Debt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-1-4-end-of-topic-test-debt.md) - 3.2 Costs & Revenues - [3.2.1 Costs & Revenues](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-2-1-costs-and-revenues.md) - 3.3 Break-Even Analysis - [3.3.1 Profit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-3-1-profit.md) - [3.3.2 Break-Even Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-3-2-break-even-analysis.md) - 3.4 Profitability & Liquidity Ratio Analysis - [3.4.1 Profitability Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-4-1-profitability-analysis.md) - 3.5 Cash Flow - [3.5.1 Cash Flow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-5-1-cash-flow.md) - [3.5.2 Solutions to Cash Flow Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-5-2-solutions-to-cash-flow-problems.md) - [3.5.3 Improving Cash Flow & Profits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-5-3-improving-cash-flow-and-profits.md) - 3.6 HL Only: Investment Appraisal - [3.6.1 Investment Appraisal](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-6-1-investment-appraisal.md) - 3.7 HL Only: Budgets - [3.7.1 Cash-Flow & Budgets](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/3-7-1-cash-flow-and-budgets.md) ### 4 Marketing - 4.1 The Role of Marketing - [4.1.1 Setting Marketing Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-1-1-setting-marketing-objectives.md) - [4.1.2 Market Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-1-2-market-calculations.md) - 4.2 Marketing Planning - [4.2.1 Marketing Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-2-1-marketing-mix.md) - [4.2.2 Segmentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-2-2-segmentation.md) - [4.2.3 Niche & Mass Markets](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-2-3-niche-and-mass-markets.md) - 4.3 Market Research - [4.3.1 Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-3-1-market-research.md) - [4.3.2 Market Mapping](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-3-2-market-mapping.md) - [4.3.3 Methods of Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-3-3-methods-of-market-research.md) - 4.4 The 4 Ps - [4.4.1 Product Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-1-product-decisions.md) - [4.4.2 Pricing Decisions & Price Skimming](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-2-pricing-decisions-and-price-skimming.md) - [4.4.3 Pricing Decisions & Price Penetration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-3-pricing-decisions-and-price-penetration.md) - [4.4.4 End of Topic Test - Pricing & Competition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-4-end-of-topic-test-pricing-and-competition.md) - [4.4.5 Promotional Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-5-promotional-decisions.md) - [4.4.6 Promotional Decisions 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-6-promotional-decisions-2.md) - [4.4.7 Promotional Decisions 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-7-promotional-decisions-3.md) - [4.4.8 Digital Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-8-digital-marketing.md) - [4.4.9 Evaluating Digital Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-9-evaluating-digital-marketing.md) - [4.4.10 Case Study - The Marketing Mix & Promotion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-10-case-study-the-marketing-mix-and-promotion.md) - [4.4.11 Place & Distribution](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-4-11-place-and-distribution.md) - 4.5 HL Only: The Extended Marketing Mix - [4.5.1 The Extended Marketing Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-5-1-the-extended-marketing-mix.md) - 4.6 HL Only: International Marketing - [4.6.1 International Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-6-1-international-marketing.md) - 4.7 E-Commerce - [4.7.1 E-Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/4-7-1-e-commerce.md) ### 5 Operations Management - 5.1 The Role of Operations Management - [5.1.1 Setting Operational Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-1-1-setting-operational-objectives.md) - 5.2 Production Methods - [5.2.1 Production Processes Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-2-1-production-processes-overview.md) - [5.2.2 Production Processes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-2-2-production-processes.md) - [5.2.3 Production Efficiency](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-2-3-production-efficiency.md) - [5.2.4 Technology & Production](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-2-4-technology-and-production.md) - 5.3 HL Only: Lean Prodution & Quality Management - [5.3.1 Importance of Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-3-1-importance-of-quality.md) - [5.3.2 Measuring & Identifying Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-3-2-measuring-and-identifying-quality.md) - [5.3.3 Total Quality Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-3-3-total-quality-management.md) - [5.3.4 Evaluating Total Quality Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-3-4-evaluating-total-quality-management.md) - [5.3.5 Case Study - Toyota Production System](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-3-5-case-study-toyota-production-system.md) - 5.4 HL Only: Production Planning - [5.4.1 Capacity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-4-1-capacity.md) - [5.4.2 Productivity & Efficiency](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-4-2-productivity-and-efficiency.md) - [5.4.3 Technology & Efficiency](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-4-3-technology-and-efficiency.md) - [5.4.4 Improving the Supply Chain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-4-4-improving-the-supply-chain.md) - [5.4.5 Inventory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-4-5-inventory.md) - [5.4.6 Outsourcing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-4-6-outsourcing.md) - 5.5 HL Only: Research & Development - [5.5.1 Organisational Planning Tools](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/ib-diploma/business/business-management-ib-diploma/5-5-1-organisational-planning-tools.md)