Table of Contents
Intermittent vs. Continuous Production: Which System Fits Your Factory?
Understand the key differences between intermittent and continuous production systems. Learn how intermittent methods, like batch and job production, offer flexibility for varied and custom orders, while continuous flow is for mass production.
Question
Which of the following best describes intermittent production?
A. Producing only unique, one-off items
B. Producing chemicals in continuous plants
C. Producing in continuous flows without breaks
D. Producing in batches or irregular intervals
Answer
D. Producing in batches or irregular intervals
Explanation
Intermittent production occurs in non-continuous batches. Intermittent production is a manufacturing strategy characterized by a discontinuous or non-uniform production flow, where goods are produced based on specific customer orders rather than for stock. The term “intermittent” itself means something that starts and stops at irregular intervals.
Characteristics of Intermittent Production
Unlike a continuous system that runs 24/7, an intermittent system is inherently flexible and designed to handle a wide variety of products in smaller volumes.
Key features include:
- Flexible and Varied Output: The system is not dedicated to a single product. It can produce a broad range of items that differ in size, design, and specifications.
- Make-to-Order: Production is initiated in response to customer orders, not based on demand forecasting. This results in a production flow that is irregular and not continuous.
- General-Purpose Machinery: It utilizes versatile, non-specialized equipment that can be adapted to perform different tasks for various products.
- Small to Medium Volume: This approach is suited for low-to-medium production runs, as opposed to the large-scale output of continuous systems.
Types of Intermittent Production
Intermittent production is a broad category that encompasses two major production methods:
- Job Production (Option A): This is the most discrete form, where a single, unique item is produced one at a time. Each product is a “job” tailored to a specific customer’s requirements. This method is a type of intermittent production but is not the best overall description, as intermittent also includes batch work.
- Batch Production: This involves producing a specific quantity of identical or similar items in a group, or “batch.” After one batch is completed, the machinery is retooled to produce the next batch, which may be a different product. This is the most common form of intermittent production.
Contrast with Continuous Production (Options B and C)
Continuous production is the operational opposite of intermittent production. It involves a steady, non-stop flow where standardized products are manufactured in very high volumes.
- Flow Production: This is the classic assembly line model, where identical products move continuously through a fixed sequence of operations. This is described in option C.
- Process Production: This is a type of flow production used for undifferentiated goods like chemicals, gasoline, or processed food, as mentioned in option B. The process runs continuously without breaks.
Production & Operations: Apply, Analyze & Optimize Skills certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Production & Operations: Apply, Analyze & Optimize exam and earn Production & Operations: Apply, Analyze & Optimize certificate.