Simplest Way to Understand the Types of Manufacturing and Manufacturing Processes

Author: Group50 Consulting

Manufacturing seeks to produce as many goods as the market will buy at the lowest possible cost. Machines and robotic automation are essential for this to be achieved. There are two types of manufacturing: discrete and process. Discrete manufacturing enables everything from automobiles to mobile phones and clothing. However, in process manufacturing, items like beverages, chemicals, and medications are produced in large quantities by combining materials according to formulas or recipes.

Various procedures are required to turn raw materials into a finished product, including design, prototyping, mass production, quality assurance, and shipping. Assembly lines help in the faster manufacturing process with lower labor costs and less experienced people. A product’s components travel through several production phases as it moves down an assembly line.

In this article, you will see a simple way to understand the types of manufacturing and manufacturing processes. Sometimes some companies can’t find the proper way to manufacture their products and will face problems during the manufacturing process. If you are facing this type of problem, you can contact a product manufacturing consulting firm like Group50. Their services include helping customers with things like work cell optimization, opportunity definition for automation and cobots, plant redesign, consolidation, CI/Six Sigma program development, and more.

Types of Product Manufacturing
  1. Make-to-Order (MTO): Waiting until a customer places an order before initiating production is characteristic of made-to-order (MTO) production. This is a typical procedure for photo products, custom orders, and similar items that require individualization. This is a common feature among manufacturers of all sizes. Common amongst print shops and other small enterprises that can afford to own their own manufacturing equipment.
  2. Make to Stock (MTS): MTS is a common production method that anticipates consumer demand. It is most effective in situations where demand is known in advance, such as during the holiday season for toys and clothing. However, MTS can cause issues when demand is hard to estimate. When applied to a company or a product with a volatile sales cycle, MTS increases the risk of either overstocking and resulting losses or understocking and missing sales opportunities. To get a better grasp of the market, you can seek the assistance of a product manufacturing consulting firm.
  3. Make-to-Assemble (MTA): The make-to-assemble (MTA) technique combines the advantages of both make-to-stock and make-to-order production methods. The manufacturer constructs a stock of parts before it receives orders from customers, but it only puts together finished goods in response to those orders. This method is frequently employed when the components require much time and money to produce but the finished product can be assembled quickly and easily.
Types of Manufacturing Processes
  1. Discrete Manufacturing: Each manufactured item in discrete manufacturing can be uniquely identified and traced back to its individual raw ingredients or components thanks to the bill of materials used during the production process. Assembly line employees in discrete manufacturing processes often make units according to a predetermined timetable while keeping track of all the materials they use.
  2. Job Shop Manufacturing: This method of manufacturing allows for the creation of one-of-a-kind items in either MTO (made-to-order) or MTS (make-to-stock) configurations. Job shops are factories that are set up to produce unique or small batches of a certain product. The business can transition into a discrete manufacturing line, with the possibility of replacing human labor with machinery, if demand from customers warrants it.
  3. Repetitive Manufacturing: When making repeated production at a guaranteed production rate, repetitive manufacturing is the best option. In this method of production, entire assembly lines are devoted to making just one type of product or component around the clock, every day of the year. With so little downtime for setup and adjustment, production rates can be easily adjusted to meet fluctuating demands. A product manufacturing consulting firm can also suggest some effective ways to manage the flow of resources and ongoing processes.
  4. Process Manufacturing: There are two primary categories of process manufacturing.
  5. A predetermined formula or set of guidelines creates goods in a batch process. The food and beverage industry frequently employs batch process manufacturing to produce easily repeatable commodities of a precise quantity (such as a certain container of sauce).
  6. In contrast, continuous process manufacturing comprises regular, ongoing processes that produce a product continuously for a long time. After that, the production process is suspended for a while and then restarted. When extracting oil and gas, the oil and gas industry relies significantly on continuous process manufacturing.

In Conclusion

Manufacturing is a vital part of industry, not only for supplying items for the market but also for propelling the economy forward. Whether producing goods for stock, to order, or for assembly, manufacturers must strike a delicate balance between supply and demand and have an intuitive understanding of customer preferences. Product manufacturing consulting firms like Group50 can help you understand the supply and demand of the market and your products, and if you are facing any issues in the manufacturing process or the marketing of the products, they can also greatly assist you. So, you can contact Group50 if you want a smooth operation of the processes and help regarding the issues you are facing.