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An industrial production line is the configuration of a production process that contains a series of steps. At each step, an operation is performed, which brings the item closer to its final stage, that of a finished product. It is the industrial production line, then, that enables the manufacturing of various products, in various types of production. The manufacturing process uses various methods, operations, machinery, and labor to transform raw material into a finished product. With optimization, it is possible to reduce costs, improve the quality of production and products, increase competitiveness, and improve the flow of goods. READ ALSO: • Quality inspection, what is it?
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Types of production lines
The production process involves the creation of a product or service, and there are different types of production lines and manufacturing processes. Some examples follow below:
Batch production
In this production, items are made in a batch. For example, 1,200 candies that go through 6 production stages together, each bringing them to the final arrival point where they become a final product. The number of batches that will be created is defined according to the specific need of a customer. Between the production of each batch, the equipment will be cleaned, and it remains idle before another batch is needed. The factory or equipment may be capable of producing a high quantity of a certain product, but the customer's need may be smaller than its capacity, which causes production to occur in batches.
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Mass production (continuous)
Mass production, or continuous production, runs 24/7, meaning all the time. It is a repetitive production process that creates the same product in a mass production line, which is very common in the automotive, electronics, semiconductor, and durable goods industries. This type of production is ideal for these industries because consumer demand for the final product is stable and predictable. Thus, the industrial production line remains reasonably constant, with few changes, and the product is made over a certain period of time.
Discrete production or manufacturing
It is similar to mass production, as it is a production that takes place on production lines. However, the products made in this process vary significantly. Thus, when there is a change in the models of the products to be made, the production line configuration needs to be altered. This change brings costs in the form of time, labor, and resources. For example, in the computer industry, in addition to technology developing at a constantly fast pace, consumer demands are personalized and require mass customization. Therefore, the manufacturing process of new computers will need modifications in the production line, which in turn require the latest electronic components on the market.
How to optimize the industrial production line
It is possible to optimize the industrial production line in several ways, including using Industry 4.0 technologies, such as the Internet of Things. Therefore, having deep knowledge of the production line is important to know how to optimize it. There are some important aspects to optimization, but the first step is to understand what you want to optimize.
The steps of optimization
In the case of more than one production line, it is necessary to determine on which one improvements will be made. It is possible to do this in two ways. The first is according to the production line that is causing the most problems. The second, according to the simplicity of the production line process. In other words, which production line is the easiest to understand. After defining this, the process occurs as follows:
Fabio Caraça
Fábio Caraça is the Chief Growth Officer at Pix Force. He leads Pix Force's transformation into a scalable SaaS operation, combining strategic vision, culture, and high-impact execution.
