Job Shop
A manufacturing environment that produces custom or small-batch products with varied routings through different workstations based on specific job requirements. Job shops offer high flexibility to handle diverse customer orders but typically have longer lead times and higher per-unit costs than high-volume production.
RELATED TERMS
Make to Order
A production strategy where manufacturing begins only after receiving a confirmed customer order, rather than building to inventory. Make-to-order reduces inventory carrying costs and obsolescence risk but requires shorter lead times and flexible production capabilities to meet customer delivery expectations.
Work Order
A document that authorizes and provides instructions for manufacturing a specific quantity of a product. Work orders specify the materials, labor, equipment, and steps required to complete production, and serve as the primary record for tracking job progress, costs, and completion.
Changeover Time
The time required to switch a machine or production line from making one product to another, including setup, adjustment, and first-article inspection. Reducing changeover time through techniques like SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Dies) enables more flexible production and smaller batch sizes.
Manufacturing Cell
A production unit that groups dissimilar machines and processes together to manufacture a family of similar parts or products. Manufacturing cells support flexible production, reduce setup times, and improve quality by enabling quick feedback between operations.