New
New
Lesson 10 of 12
  • Year 11

Scales of production in manufacturing

I can describe different scales of production with examples.

Lesson 10 of 12
New
New
  • Year 11

Scales of production in manufacturing

I can describe different scales of production with examples.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. One-off production is used for unique, custom products.
  2. Batch production is used to make a limited number of identical products efficiently.
  3. Mass production is used to make large quantities of identical products efficiently.
  4. Continuous production is used to make products non-stop, usually in very high volumes.

Keywords

  • One-off production - manufacture of a single, unique product

  • Batch production - manufacture of a set number of identical products

  • Mass production - large numbers of products made on a production line

  • Continuous production - non-stop, high-volume production

  • Economies of scale - as production increases, the cost per unit decreases

Common misconception

Mass production and continuous production are the same thing.

Mass production stops and starts, but continuous production never stops.


To help you plan your year 11 design and technology lesson on: Scales of production in manufacturing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use real examples like car assembly lines versus chemical plants to show the difference between mass and continuous production.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Put the stages in the correct order from source to stock form:

1 - Raw material is collected.
2 - Material is processed to be usable.
3 - Use material in manufacturing.

Q2.
True or false? Machine tools make production faster and more consistent than hand tools.

Correct answer: True
False

Q3.
What does 'industrial' typically refer to in manufacturing?

small, handcrafted products made by a single person
Correct answer: large-scale production using machinery and technology
purely artistic or sculptural items
activities done at home by a hobbyist

Q4.
What does CNC stand for?

Computerised Numeric Cutting
Controlled Numerical Coding
Correct answer: Computer Numerical Control
Central Networked Control

Q5.
A ready-made part used across different products to make manufacturing easier is called a ...

Correct Answer: component, components

Q6.
What is one main benefit of using standard stock forms in manufacturing?

they are always made from recycled materials
they are customised for each product
Correct answer: they're easier to transport, store, and use in different manufacturing processes
they don't require specialised tools to work with

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which scale of production is most suitable for a bespoke ring?

mass production
Correct answer: one-off production
continuous production
batch production

Q2.
In production, the production line runs non-stop.

Correct Answer: continuous

Q3.
Which scale of production is most suitable for a weekly magazine?

mass production
one-off production
continuous production
Correct answer: batch production

Q4.
of scale occurs when producing more items lowers the cost per unit, especially in mass and continuous production.

Correct Answer: Economies

Q5.
Which of the following best defines mass production?

making a single, unique product by hand
producing small batches of items with some flexibility
Correct answer: making large quantities of identical products using machinery and assembly lines
producing goods continuously without stopping

Q6.
What does 'standardised' mean in manufacturing?

each product is unique and custom-made
Correct answer: products are made to the same specifications every time
production happens only once for a prototype
machines are never used in the process