Mass production benefits society through economies of scale, standardization, automation, and worker specialization. It lowers production costs, increases profits, and creates a steady product flow. The division of labor and specialization lead to higher quality products. Automation will continue to replace some workers, but mass production will remain a fixture in industry.
The main benefits of mass production are simple, but they have transformed society from the days of cottage industry where finished products were expensive and rare. Economies of scale, standardization, automated production flow, and specialization of workers have helped make the process successful in meeting the needs of modern society. While the rise of automation will continue to replace some worker roles in the mass production process over time, the concept is likely to remain a fixture of industry for at least the remainder of the 21st century.
One of the key reasons for establishing the process in the first place is what is known as economies of scale. This means that the larger the production of a product becomes, the lower the cost per unit of production of these items will decrease accordingly. This translates into higher net profits for the company if there is unmet demand for the product.
Another key benefit of mass production is that it creates a degree of standardization in production not normally present in materials or complete units produced one at a time. This is because each station on an assembly line is set up with machinery that will only accept parts of a predetermined size, composition, etc. This set of automatic controls or jigs at each workstation allows parts to be manufactured in very different geographic locations and assembled into a complete unit elsewhere. It also allows workers to focus their energy and attention on machining the part instead of making sure it meets measured standards, which speeds up the assembly process. Once the product has been placed on the market, this standardization also contributes to a higher level of interchangeability and routine maintenance over time.
An industry term for mass production is flow manufacturing, or repetitive flow manufacturing, which highlights another key benefit the system offers. Although starting a mass production business involves a large investment in automated machinery and electrical equipment, the payoff after setting up the system is profound. Enhanced automation speeds up the manufacturing process, creating a steady stream or product flow at a much faster rate than could otherwise be produced. The faster products can be made to standards and brought to the retail market, the more profit the labor generates for the company, with the same amount of hours spent on labor as an artisan would spend making just one product.
The central concept behind the value of mass production from a human resource perspective is the idea of the division of labor. When something is produced through serial production in which each worker concentrates all his attention on a small aspect, then the product has the ability to possess a higher degree of reliable quality than those produced one at a time. Specialization is, therefore, a key aspect of successful mass production, as anyone who mass-produces anything can become an expert at maintaining the quality of an appearance in a short amount of time.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
