Flow “vs” Conventional Production

Type of Production
Conventional Flow
Worker repeats the same Worker repeats a group of
Proficiency
operation operations
In-process
High Almost none
Inventory
Lead Time Long Short
High speed, general purpose,
Equipment Slow, specialized, small
large
Production
Narrow variety and large lots Wide variety and small lots
Orientation
Space Takes up a lot of space Less space requirements
Conveyance Required Not required
Problems are discovered after Problems are identified the
Quality
the lot is produced moment they occur