We explain what industrial production is and what types exist. In addition, we tell you what the stages that make it up are.
What is industrial production?
industrial production It is the transformation process to which the raw material is subjected to generate different manufactured goods whether they are final goods (intended for consumption) or intermediate goods (intended for other industrial processes). When talking about industrial production Reference is usually made to the secondary sector of the economy.
In industrial production, different large-scale chemical, physical, electrical and/or mechanical processes are launched, in which machinery, labor and different energy resources, technological knowledge and capital take part. Therefore, By measuring the industrial production of a country, its economic capacity can be studied.
The beginnings of industrial production date back to the 18th century, during the so-called Industrial Revolution, and its beginnings occurred in England, in the field of textile production. At that time, production was done in a semi-artisanal way, using many workers and tools, and the significant change in the production model came with the first textile machines, capable of spinning more and faster. Industrialization, thus, consisted of applying that same criterion to the rest of the areas of the production of goods and services.
Stages of the industrial process
The industrial process is the set of stages and dynamics that allow raw materials to be obtained and transformed into manufactured goods. This is a very important process, since allows mass production of goods with which consumers satisfy their needs whether food, clothing, technological objects or even the machinery itself that allows industrial production.
This process consists of various phases or stages, which can be very different from each other, since involve the use of different techniques based on the use of heat, electricity, chemical reactions or the mechanical alteration of matter. Each stage, however, allows the next one to take place, in the manner of a productive chain or circuit.
The stages of this circuit can be summarized as follows:
- Reception and conditioning of raw materials. In this stage, the raw material is received from its extraction instances (the primary sector of the economy) and is available to begin its transformation process. This may consist of cleaning, selecting or resting the materials.
For example: A chocolate factory weighs and selects the cocoa beans it will use before proceeding to clean them, since they come directly from the field. - Processing and separation of raw materials. The next stage of the process consists of intervening in the raw material to obtain the parts or substances that will be used to produce the processed goods. This may mean subjecting it to cooking, fermentation, mechanical modification or controlled chemical processes, depending on what it is.
For example: In a chocolate factory, the selected cocoa bean is roasted and then crushed to separate the shell: the pure bean is then cooked to obtain cocoa liquor and cocoa paste. - Production of processed goods. The third stage is the preparation of the processed good, whether it is food, furniture, a tool or any other product. Using the processed raw material (or different types of it) a final product (which goes to the consumer) or an intermediate product (which is integrated into other production chains) is obtained.
For example: In a chocolate factory, cocoa paste is used, along with milk, nuts and other ingredients, to make chocolate bars. - Product packaging and distribution. The fourth stage of the industrial process involves the packaging and decoration of the product, if any. Packaging methods can be very diverse, depending on whether the product is sold by unit or by a set of units, and depending on whether it will be marketed directly or not.
For example: In a chocolate factory, chocolate bars are wrapped in paper that has been previously printed and colored, in order to be more attractive to the consumer. - Disposal of the waste obtained. The last stage of the industrial process involves disposing of the waste that was generated during the production of the good or service. These wastes can be more or less voluminous and more or less toxic and/or polluting, so they often must be processed before being returned to the environment.
For example: In a chocolate factory, cocoa shells are used to make animal feed and the water in which the cocoa has been boiled is allowed to cool and then strained and purified before returning it to the environment, thus minimizing changes. in the constitution, pH and temperature of the environment.
Types of industrial production
Industrial production can occur according to different models, depending on the needs it must satisfy. Thus, it is possible to distinguish four production models:
- Production to order. In this model, the product is manufactured when requested by the customer, so that it adapts to the particularities of the request. Normally, this model is used to manufacture highly specialized goods, since the process starts and stops with each good produced, using labor intensively.
For example: the construction of a building by a construction company. - Batch production. In this model, products or goods are manufactured in a limited quantity, which makes up a particular “series” or “batch.” For this, a template or mold is used that allows identical goods to be manufactured, which reduces the time required and in turn allows the combination of different batches on the same machinery.
For example: printing sports t-shirts for a world cup final. - mass production. In this model, products or goods are manufactured in large quantities, through specialized machinery. Thus, in a short time and with fewer workers, many identical goods are produced, destined to feed a market with very high demand. Otherwise, there is a risk of leaving a large stocks of unsold products.
For example: the mass manufacturing of soda cans. - Continuous flow production. In this model, products or goods are manufactured continuously (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), usually through 100% automated processes, requiring minimal human supervision. This type of process is used when it is not convenient to interrupt the machinery process, whose production satisfies a continuous and uninterrupted demand.
For example: the production of electrical energy in a generation plant.
Continue with: Manufacturing industry
References
- Leidinger, O. (1997). Industrial processes. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
- OECD. (2023). industrial production (indicator). https://data.oecd.org/
- The Encyclopaedia Britannica. (sf). “Industry”. https://www.britannica.com/
