We explain what the production process is and the types that exist. Also, what are its stages and the milk production process.
What is the production process?
The diverse set of planned operations to transform certain inputs or factors into goods or services determined, through the application of a technological process that usually involves a certain type of specialized knowledge and machinery. The fundamental objective of this process is the satisfaction of a certain type of demand from society.
The production process It is made up of successive stages and is complex and diverse in nature so it merits prior study, planning and the arrangement of certain basic elements, known as raw materials, as well as a source of energy (generally electricity). At the end of this process, the goods or services are offered through a marketing circuit that reaches the consumer. Furthermore, the transition from one stage to the other gives the final product added value that makes the entire operation profitable.
The way we understand production processes today is the result of both the Industrial and technological Revolution, as well as the liberalization of trade, aspects that were accentuated in the world from the middle of the 20th century. This too is linked to the growing industrialization of the world and its well-known ecological consequences.
See also: Factors of production
Types of production process
Generally, five different types of production processes are identified, which are:
- Production by projects or to order These types of processes manufacture an exclusive and individualized product, that is, each organization or company will have a specific production process according to what it produces and how. It is the usual type of process in the home construction industry, for example.
- Batch or discontinuous production It is identified because it manufactures a small batch of different products, similar to each other, since they are produced in a similar way, through tasks that do not differ too much until some point in the production chain. It is generally the type of early-stage production of certain consumer products, such as in the ink and paint industry, in which one color is produced before the other.
- Artisanal production That which manufactures diverse products, more or less single pieces, not very uniform, produced in much smaller batches and generally intended for a specialized or occasional audience. It is the type of production, for example, of the popular indigenous looms in Latin America.
- Mass production It is a highly mechanized and automated process, which uses modern technology and a high number of workers, to manufacture a large number of products similar to each other, that is, uniform and serialized, at a fairly low cost and in a considerable amount of time. very brief. This is the type of production of most everyday consumer items, such as canned goods.
- Continuous production On an even larger scale than mass production, continuous production generally manufactures intermediate inputs to feed other industries, so its products are quite homogeneous and the transformation stages of the inputs are very similar to each other. This is the case of the steel industry, for example.
Stages of the production process
Any production process is made up, broadly speaking, of three specific phases or stages:
- Analytical or collection stage The production circuit begins when raw materials are collected and grouped for transformation. At this stage what is sought is to obtain the greatest amount of raw materials at the lowest cost, also taking into account transportation and warehouse costs. Then the raw material is broken down into smaller parts, according to the specific needs of the production process.
- Synthesis or production stage In this stage, the raw material is subjected to various physical, chemical and industrial processes to finally obtain a unique, different product. The supervision of these processes implies quality and control standards.
- Conditioning or processing stage Once the product is obtained, it is adapted to the client's needs, preparing it for its entry into the commercial circuit, whether definitive (for the manufactured products purchased by the final consumer) or intermediate (to serve as input for new production processes).
Milk production process
A good example of all of the above is the milk production circuit that we buy in the supermarket. This circuit includes the following stages:
- First stage: milking As we all know, milk comes from cows, which are found in specialized milking farms. Before milking them, that is, connecting them to machines that mechanically extract milk from the animal's udders, each cow must be inspected to ensure that they are in good health and that the liquid is not at risk of contamination. Then milking proceeds, through aluminum mechanisms that operate with vacuum suction and have filters to remove impurities; It is then stored in tanks at a temperature of four degrees Celsius (4 °C), without any additives or preservatives.
- Second stage: pasteurization and separation The stored milk is delivered to plants specialized in its evaluation and processing, converting raw or freshly milked milk into fluid milk, which is then subjected to the pasteurization process: it is heated to a temperature of around 80 °C, cooling it immediately to kill any type of microorganisms present, without altering the chemical and physical properties of the product. At this stage, the different portions of milk that will go to different markets are also separated: liquid milk, cheese, yogurt, creams, etc.
- Third stage: commercialization Milk (and/or its derivatives) is packaged in containers designed to compete commercially, and subjected to examinations to verify quality and hygiene standards. It is then distributed in supermarket chains and other stores that make it reach its target audience, who buys it, takes it home and consumes it.
Continue with: Modes of production
References
- “Production chain” in Wikipedia.
- “Productive chains: concept, elements and barriers” in RedEAmerica.
- “Productive process” in Emprende Pyme.
- “Productive chain” in Aula ma$s/.
- “Production process: what it consists of and how it is developed” at EAE Business School.
- “Production Chain (Economics)” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.
