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Job production is the opposite of mass production. Instead of producing a large number of products at a time, job manufacturers focus on creating only one unique good. As a result, the product is of higher quality and tailors to the specific need of the customer. In today's article, let's discuss what job production is and how it works.
Job production is one of the primary production methods adopted by organisations worldwide, along with flow production and Just-in-time production.
Job production is used to produce a number of personalised products.
Examples of job production include an artist drawing portraits of different people, an architect creating home plans for different families, or an aerospace manufacturer making advanced rockets and spacecraft.
The production of the given product only starts when an order is made. Also, each order is unique and has to meet the specific requirements of the customer. Those engaged in job production can only work on one order at a time. Once an order is completed, another is initiated.
Job production produces one-off, personalised goods rather than mass-market items.
Those working in job production are referred to as jobbers. Jobbers can be highly-skilled individuals who specialise in one craft - such as photographers, painters, barbers - or a group of workers within a company such as a group of engineers building spacecraft.
Job production tends to be undertaken by a single professional or a small firm. However, many larger companies can engage in job production. While some job production services are basic and involve little use of technology, others are complex and require advanced technology.
It only takes a small group of marketing professionals to initiate a marketing campaign, whereas it can take thousands of engineers and workers to build an aircraft.
Job production can be financially rewarding since customers are willing to pay more for the personalised product or service. But this also means manufacturers have to invest more time and effort in creating a supreme product that meets specific requirements.
Boeing is one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers. In 2019, the company generated $76.5 billion in revenues by fulfilling commercial aircraft orders for airlines around the world.1 However, the cost to produce each Boeing can reach up to hundreds of millions of US dollars.2
Due to personalisation, products made with job production tend to bring more customer satisfaction. However, it's difficult to find replacements or spare parts. If one part is missing or broken, the owner may have to replace it with an entirely new item.
To succeed in job production, companies need to first come up with a set of clear objectives and specifications (descriptions of the design). They should also work hard to build a reputable brand image and ensure all customers are happy with what they received. Satisfied customers will become brand evangelists who give the company free word-of-mouth advertising or referrals.
Many businesses adopt job production for their product creation process. Below are examples of low-tech and high-tech production jobs:
Low-tech jobs are jobs with little technology or equipment. The production takes up little space and needs only one or a few individuals to perform the task. Also, the skills are easily picked up.
Some examples include:
Hairdressers
Dressmaking
Painting
Building
Plumbing
Figure 1. Painting as a low-tech production job example, Wikimedia Public Domain
High-tech jobs require more advanced technology and equipment to get the job done. The processes are complex, time-consuming, and labour intensive. Workers in these job production plants tend to have highly specialised skills.
Some examples include:
Spaceship building
Film production
Company software
Military equipment
A real-life example:
Falcon 9 is a reusable rocket designed by SpaceX to take humans into space and back. Reusability allows SpaceX to reuse the most expensive parts of launched rockets for the new ones and brings down the cost of space exploration. Falcon 9s are manufactured in SpaceX's headquarter factory which spans over 1 million square feet with a maximum production rate of 40 rocket cores per year (2013).3
Figure 2. SpaceX Rocket as a high-tech job production example, Wikimedia Public Domain
There are both advantages and disadvantages to job production (see Figure 3 below):
High-quality products due to small-scale and focused production
Personalised products bring in more revenues and customer satisfaction
Higher job satisfaction due to employees’ strong commitment to the tasks
More flexibility compared to mass production
For manufacturers
Higher costs to employ high-skilled workers
Production can take up a lot of time and resources
Specialised machines are needed for complex items
A lot of calculations or assessment needs to be made before the work is carried out
For consumers:
Higher fees for personalised products
Difficulty in finding replacements since the products are uniquely designed
Longer waiting times to receive the final product
Figure 3. Advantages and disadvantages of job production, StudySmarter
Job production is the production of one-off, unique products tailored to the specific needs of the customers. Instead of juggling two or more tasks at a time, 'jobbers' concentrate on only one task. The main benefit of job production is to ensure the highest quality of the product produced and improve customer satisfaction. However, due to unique features, the production can take a lot of time and resources.
Sources:
1. Staff, 'About Boeing Commercial Airplanes', boeing.com, 2022.
2. Erick Burgueño Salas, 'Average prices for Boeing aircraft as of March 2021 by type', statista.com, 2021.
3. Staff, 'Production at SpaceX', spacex.com, 2013.
Job production is a production method where only one order is completed at a time. Each order is unique and meets the specific requirements of the customer. Some examples of products made with job production include wedding dresses, paintings, home plans, spacecrafts, bridges, etc.
Job production's characteristics include:
High-quality products due to small-scale and focused production
Personalised products bring in more revenues and customer satisfaction
Higher job satisfaction due to employees’ strong commitment to the tasks
More flexibility compared to mass production
Higher costs to employ high-skilled workers
Production can take up a lot of time and resources
Specialised machines are needed for complex items
Some calculations or assessment has to be made before the work is carried out.
Spaceship building
Public transit construction
Film production
Hairdressers
Dressmaking
Painting
Building
Plumbing
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