Industry
Fact-checked

At AboutMechanics, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Batch Production?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Manufacturers of anything from cakes to computer chips have many ways of organizing production. One of these methods is called batch production. This is when, instead of manufacturing items singly or by continuous production, items are manufactured in groups or batches. A specific process for each item takes place at the same time on a batch of items, and that group does not move onto the next stage of production or inspection until the whole batch is done.

For example, in small bakeries and many homes, as opposed to large food manufacturing companies, cookies are baked in batches. A baker must first make the dough, then place it onto baking sheets, and then bake it. People are limited as to how many cookies they can produce at one time by the number of baking sheets and ovens they possess, and by the size of bowls available to mix each batch.

The batch production method is used when producing everything from pies and cookies to computer chips and camera lenses.
The batch production method is used when producing everything from pies and cookies to computer chips and camera lenses.

This is batch production, since a large number of cookies is baked at the same time, and bakers can’t skip from one step to the next until each process is complete. They can’t start cooking the cookies until they've made the dough, and they can’t remove the cookies from the oven (in most cases) until all the cookies are done, unless using an oven with a conveyor belt. There are necessary steps that apply to the whole batch of cookies. Cooking may requires a baker to bake in individual batches, increasing the final time between finishing the dough and actually having completed baking all the cookies.

In batch production, items are made in large groups or batches.
In batch production, items are made in large groups or batches.

Sometimes, this type of production is necessary when a manufacturer is producing similar things, but with variants. For instance, if a company manufactures two colors of the same shoe, it would probably use batch production. Any dyeing of leather or fabric can’t apply to the whole set of shoes since they’re different colors, which can mean stopping in between each batch to change or clean machines, or prepare to add new dyes for the next variation. The necessity of stopping between batches is called "down time," and is why some people find this method of production an inefficient manufacturing process. Time needed to prepare equipment or machines for the next batch can reduce total amount that can be manufactured and take longer in total production time.

Bakers typically make bread in large batches.
Bakers typically make bread in large batches.

Another example is found in thin film coating of materials, like lenses, computer screens and the like. A coating machine can hold a finite number of the item being produced, and it can take several hours to over a day to apply the coatings needed in order to produce one batch. After materials are coated, they move on to the inspection process, while the coating machine must be readied for the next batch. This resetting of the machine may take considerable time, and may require several steps before the next batch can be placed in the machine.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent AboutMechanics contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent AboutMechanics contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon150441

Thanks for helping me with my tech homework.

anon114344

boringly good. lots of information.

anon87168

Great info. Very useful to understand the subject.

anon80912

Nice way of making a layman understand a difficult thing in simple words. Hats off!

Cheers, Shamit A.

anon80329

You don't have anything in here about the environmental issues caused by batch production.

anon72503

Great! the cookies made me hungry though!

anon52635

great info.

anon48366

this information was so helpful to me. i will make sure i use you guys again. you were so helpful. many thanks.

anon47596

This website was absoloutly fabulous. I will visit every day. ben howett.

anon46673

This is a really good website! You're just amazing! Nice work! Love Hannah <3 Xx

anon30448

Hey!! Great work fella's!!

That's not the type of info easily available on the net.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • The batch production method is used when producing everything from pies and cookies to computer chips and camera lenses.
      By: irishka
      The batch production method is used when producing everything from pies and cookies to computer chips and camera lenses.
    • In batch production, items are made in large groups or batches.
      By: lnzyx
      In batch production, items are made in large groups or batches.
    • Bakers typically make bread in large batches.
      By: Ljupco Smokovski
      Bakers typically make bread in large batches.
    • Batch production may be used for dying leather goods.
      By: kobolia
      Batch production may be used for dying leather goods.
    • Assembly line manufacture allows for cheap mass production.
      By: onizu3d
      Assembly line manufacture allows for cheap mass production.