INTRODUCTION TO MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

I. Introduction

A. Each and every thing you see was produced by a “production” system.

B. Production is the manufacturing of products or construction of structures.

1. manufacturing – product produced within a factory

a. car

b. computer

c. television

2. construction – structure produced at a location that changes

a. bridge

b. house

c. school building

C. This portion of the course will investigation manufacturing systems.

II. Development of Manufacturing

  1. A brief “history” of manufacturing would include:

1. pre-1800’s to late 1800’s – custom production

a. agricultural society

b. families produced much of what they needed

c. skilled craftsman provide special items

2. late 1800’s to mid-1900’s – Industrial Revolution (factory system)

a. machinery began replacing handwork

b. scientific knowledge used to solve problems

c. development of energy sources

d. mass production techniques developed

3. mid-1900’s to current –Technological Revolution

a. produce more in less time

b. development of single purpose machines

c. utilization of the computer

d. more attention to “impacts” of technology

e. greater importance of education and re-education

  1. While manufacturing today still reflects the factory system of production;

it nevertheless has evolved into a very complex system as a result of the Technological Revolution.

III. Manufacturing Systems

A. The activity of manufacturing can be represented as a system.

1. A system can be defined as a group of parts working

together to achieve a goal.

B. A system is made up of four (4) primary components:

1. input(s)

2. process(es)

3. output(s)

4. feedback

C. The input(s) to a manufacturing system includes what is known as the

seven (7) basic resources, which include:

1. people

2. materials

3. capital

4. tools and machines

5. energy

6. information

7. time

D. The output(s) to a manufacturing system includes those things that

are the result of processing, which include:

  1. finished products

a. cars

b. computers

c. telephones

2. by-products

a. scrap/waste

b. pollutants

c. converted energy

3. impacts

a. individual

b. society

c. environmental

IV. Selected Items of Importance

A. The following represent selected items of importance related to the

area of manufacturing systems:

  1. organization
  2. proprietorship – sole owner
  3. partnerships – two(2) or more owners
  4. corporation
  5. management
  6. owner(s)
  7. stockholders
  8. Board of Directors
  9. corporate officers
  10. plant managers
  11. department managers/foreman
  12. types of production
  13. custom
  14. job-lot
  15. mass
  16. impacts
  17. economic
  18. quality of life
  19. pollution
  20. recycling and conservation
  21. other items
  22. labor
  23. wages/salaries
  24. automation
  25. global competition
  26. energy usage
  27. production charts
  28. quality control

V. Conclusion

A. The production of products, regardless of size, involve the use of a
manufacturing system.

B. While manufacturing systems have evolved over the years; their primary
purpose remains the same, producing products for the masses.