The manufacturing business world has a broad horizon, and we cannot clearly see its ending point. From vehicles and construction to chemicals and medicine, the manufacturing industry has various complexions. This is why you need to identify the best type of manufacturing process, as it differs according to the nature of the business. Job shop manufacturing is one such type where you can serve many industries with its features and functions.
In this article, we will explore job shop manufacturing and the key benefits of this manufacturing type.
What is Job Shop Manufacturing?
First, you need to understand the uniqueness of this type of manufacturing and why it is required for some sorts of businesses in the manufacturing world. Job shop manufacturing is a type of manufacturing process where products are produced in small quantities and customised according to each customer’s specific requirements. This means the customisation capacity is the main point of job shop manufacturing.
Then how does this differ from other types? Well, the answer is too simple. Job shop manufacturing involves a flexible production layout where machines are arranged to handle a variety of different tasks. It is perfect for producing highly expert or unique items like prototypes, one-off designs, or low-volume production runs because each project usually requires its own setups and procedures.
Is the workforce different, too? Why not? Job shops usually employ skilled workers who can adapt to different tasks and processes. This is because the industry’s nature is developed to ensure efficient production despite the variability in product specifications.
Compared to mass manufacturing processes, this strategy can end up in longer waiting periods, but it also provides greater flexibility and response to customer demands.
The complexity of job shop manufacturing makes them use just-in-time (JIT) workflow more often when fulfilling order processing. What is this JIT workflow? This method in manufacturing is a strategy aimed at optimising production processes by minimising inventory levels and streamlining workflows. This indicates that its goal is to supply labour, raw resources, and inventories only when needed.
Top 4 Benefits of Job Shop Manufacturing
Personalising Product Design
The ability to personalise product design is undoubtedly a significant benefit of job shop manufacturing due to its flexibility and adaptability to diverse customer needs. In job shop manufacturing, production processes are highly customisable. This flexibility is what allows for the creation of unique and tailored products.
Since job shop manufacturing handles small batch sizes or individual orders by nature, the manufacturers can easily accommodate variations in design, specifications, and customisation requests. This flexibility encourages job shop manufacturers to cater to niche markets and individual preferences. It also lets them offer customers a wide range of options for personalised products such as eyeglasses, spectacles, wooden furniture, and so on.
Whether it is customising dimensions, materials, features, or aesthetics, job shop manufacturing gives high priority to fulfilling specific customer requirements in the first place. It is an added advantage that they put more focus on precision and attention to detail.
As you can see, in the job shop manufacturing realm, customers can enjoy products that meet their exact preferences and specifications. In the same sector, companies are encouraged to offer an unlimited level of satisfaction and loyalty to their customers. There is no need to say that manufacturers are able to charge more for customised products and have larger profit margins due to this flexibility.
Highly Adjustable to Change
It is a very rare thing that manufacturers are given a hand to be adjustable for rapid changes, yet it is a plus point for sure! The ability to be adjustable to change is another thing to highlight when it comes to job-shop manufacturing. This occurs due to its inherent flexibility and responsiveness to shifting market demands and production requirements. By the nature of job shop setups, you can see they are specifically designed to handle a variety of tasks and accommodate changes in production schedules, product designs, and order specifications efficiently.
Job shop manufacturers can quickly adapt to new production needs when needed. They can be highly flexible towards changing customer requests or market trends without significant retooling or downtime.
Manufacturers can react quickly to shifts in consumer demand, new business possibilities, or unforeseen problems like supply chain breakdowns or product revisions, thanks to their agility.
Let us talk about the significant benefit of being this much more adjustable. It allows job shop manufacturers to capitalise on new business opportunities above everything else. They are empowered to undertake custom orders with varying specifications and optimise resource utilisation. It also helps them to excel at innovation and experimentation, as job shops can easily test new processes, materials, or product variations to meet evolving customer preferences.
Traceability of Processes
It is common that when the production is large in quantity, it offers less traceability. But when you have a small outcome, you can easily monitor and track it without making errors. The ability to easily track and trace processes is a significant benefit of job shop manufacturing, as it backs up enhanced quality control, efficiency, and accountability throughout the production cycle.
You know that this is highly achievable in job-shop environments. This is because each task involves unique specifications and workflows, so it is convenient to look into the necessary processes. On the other hand, if you have a robust tracking and tracing system in place, it will provide visibility into the progress of individual orders, material usage, and resource allocation.
The uniqueness of this type of manufacturing is that it allows accurate monitoring of each step of the manufacturing process, from raw material procurement to final product delivery. By doing so, manufacturers can identify and address inefficiencies, bottlenecks, or quality issues in real-time, ensuring timely completion and adherence to customer requirements. It is always good to identify problematic situations in advance, as otherwise, it will lead to unnecessary waste.
As your job shop manufacturing environment is high on trackability, it will help you with compliance with regulatory standards, product recalls, and customer inquiries by providing detailed documentation of production activities and materials used.
Lower Investments
Why do we say job shop manufacturing requires only a lower investment? The reasons are interesting to explore. If we talk about the number one reason, due to its reduced need for specialised equipment, infrastructure, and inventory compared to mass production methods, this type of manufacturing only needs lower speculation.
The latter in general, operates with versatile machinery capable of handling diverse tasks and small batch sizes, which eliminates the necessity for large-scale, expensive equipment setups.
On the other hand, as we stated in the above sections, job shop manufacturing relies on JIT workflow. This means they gather inventory only when it is necessary. This flexibility in stock management reduces the need for storage costs and outstocking expenditures as well.
It also allows manufacturers to allocate resources more efficiently, avoiding the high upfront costs associated with dedicated production lines or extensive warehousing facilities.
Cerexio-Dominated Industry 4.0 Capabilities
Cerexio offers high-scale software solutions that are dominated by Industry 4.0 digital capabilities for any type of manufacturing environment. Since our solutions are flexible and can be specifically tailored according to industry requirements, your unique needs are fully covered by the power of modern technology. With Cerexio as your industry companion, your ROI is promised!
Technology is a great bridge that brings businesses and markets much closer. When you are well-equipped with relevant tools, you are able to reduce the time to market as you no longer have to worry about other barriers like tracking, transparency, consolidation, etc. However, collaborating with an industry expert is the key to avoiding your worst nightmares.
