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Production methods fall into three main categories, however, all production methods can be assisted with CAM and CAD equipment (Computer Aided Manufacture and Computer Aided Design – respectively).

Job Production and Prototype Production

Job Production is used to refer to when a product is produced with the labour of one worker. Job production is scarcely used for bulk and large scale production and mainly used for one off products or prototypes, as it is inefficient; however, quality is greatly enhanced with job production compared to other methods.

Batch Production

Main article: Batch Production

Batch production is a method used to produce or process any product in groups that are called batches. An example would be when a bakery produces each different type of bread separately and each verity is not produced continuously. Batch production is used in many different ways and is most suited to when there is a need for a quality/quantity balance. This technique is probably the most commonly used method for organising manufacture and promotes specialist labour.

Flow Production

Flow production is also a very common method of production. Flow production is when the product is built up through many segregated stages; the product is built upon at each stage and then passed directly to the next stage where it is built upon again. The production method is financially the most efficient and effective, because there is less of a need for skilled workers and is considered a continues production method, compared to batch production. However, flow production compromises quality for quantity, and for an employer it is extremely monotonous and therefore de-motivating.

Computer Aided Manufacture and Computer Aided Design

Main article: Computer Aided Manufacture; Computer Aided Design

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of a wide range of computer-based software tools that assist engineers and architects in their design of a product. Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) incorporates software to control automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to move material, it also most likely incorporates a communications network to link (most likely a network) to coordinate all of the AGVs. Again commonly used in car manufacturing and food production. CAM goes hand and hand with CAD. For example, the car would be designed with CAD software subsequently created using a CAM network which is operated with AGVs. All of theses technologies usually work in a flow production style.

• Production and manufacturing