Production processes and systems

Manufacturing Techniques

Machining: Involves removing material from a workpiece. Techniques include drilling, milling, turning and grinding.
Forming: Involves changing the shape of materials without removing any. This includes forging, rolling, and bending.
Casting & Moulding: Forms materials into desired shapes by pouring liquid material into a mould, allowing it to harden and then removing it.
Joining: Involves connecting pieces of materials together. Techniques include welding, soldering, riveting and bolting.

Batch Production: Involves the manufacture of a set quantity of a specific product.
Mass Production: Also known as flow production, it involves producing large numbers of the same product, continuously on a production line.
Just-In-Time Production: Aims to eliminate waste by receiving materials and producing items exactly when they are required.
One-Off Production: The production of a single, unique product.

Quality Control: Involves inspecting the product during and at the end of the production process to ensure it meets the required standards.
Quality Assurance: Aims to prevent mistakes or defects in products and avoid problems when delivering solutions or services to customers.
Tolerance: The permissible limit or limits of variation in dimensions.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Gear which a worker wears to protect against specific hazards.
Hazard: Something which can be dangerous to workers.
Risk: The potential harm that could occur as a result of a hazard.
Control Measure: An action taken to remove or reduce risk.

Waste Management: Measures used to deal with waste materials produced during manufacturing.
Waste Minimisation Techniques: Include reducing, reusing and recycling materials used in the manufacturing process.
End-of-Life Management: Includes options for disposing of products in an environmentally friendly way such as recycling and biodegradation.
Sustainable Manufacturing Practices: Also known as green manufacturing, it incorporates sustainability into its production operations. It aims to reduce harmful environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources.