Course 3 - Production

Course 3 focuses on the production process of a product through discussion, a matching game, and the activity of making paper airplanes. There are two basic ways companies produce products:

Individual Production

Individual Production is the total fabrication of a product by one worker.

Individual production is usually best for artesian type products which individuality assets. Also at times when production levels are very low, for example the fabrication of 1 to 3 products, individual production may be best.

Group Production

Group Production is when various workers participate in different stages of the fabrication of large quantities of a final product.

Group production is usually best when a large number of the exact product is being produced at one time. Due to the type of product the consumer expects that each finished good or service will be exactly like the other. They can purchase the product today and the same product in one month and both will be the same. Group production also very often helps maintain low production costs.

A product should be thoroughly analyzed to determine which method of production would be best.

Production cycles and schedules are also briefly touched upon. Planning for the production of a product will depend on many factors. For example:

• What method of production will the person or company use?
• What is the demand for the product?
• What is the size of the actual order?
• How much time is there to prepare the order?
• What is the season or harvest for the product?
• What resources are there at time of production?
• What type of quality is expected?
• What is the price of the product?

This course emphasizes the importance of the QUALITY of a product also. In the long run, often a company with a quality product will be more successful and will increase their profits. In addition, a business should consider not only the quality of the final product itself, but also the quality of the packaging, the quality of their distribution, quality of their customer service and the overall quality of the company image.