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Difference between Lean and Mass Production
Oct 23rd, 2011 @ 04:18 pm › Sunil Tinani
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Mass production refers to a manufacturing process in which products are manufactured on a mass scale. For example, ball-point pens are items that are used by everyone and so these are mass-produced. Lean production refers to a manufacturing process in which items are produced based on current demand trends. For example, if a particular gold necklace design is in demand, then jewelers will typically gauge this demand and produce a limited number of the in-demand necklaces.
Here is how lean and mass production differ:
A mass production process focuses on manufacturing in large-sized lots. The idea is to manufacture the maximum number of products in one lot. For example, commonly-used consumer items such as packaged food, shoes, and many other items that enjoy mass appeal are mass-produced. Alean production process focuses on producing as per the latest market demand. For example, a high-end car that is priced at several millions may be produced on an order basis.The mass production process requires the company to stock the manufactured products in a warehouse. These products are dispatched to market intermediaries (distributors). These distributors then supply these products to retailers. A lean productionprocess generally supplies direct to the customer. Stocking of products is not required – however, a market intermediary may be required (for example, a car dealer in the case of a custom-built car).Planning for mass production is based on a variety of complex factors like market price, competition, inventory levels, time taken for distribution, extra production that is required because an advertisement is released, etc. Such planning is complex and requires enterprise-level tools. Lean production is easy to plan because it is based on market demand. Figures and statistics are known and the production schedules are