ZIMSEC O Level Business Studies Notes: Production: Job Production

  • Production is the creation of goods and services
  • Job production is a production method when:
  • items are made individually
  • Each item is completed before the next one is started
  • Each item is unique
  • Usually the product is custom made to the customer’s specifications or requirements
  • Examples of items made using job production include:
    1. Paintings
    2. Bridges
    3. Designer clothes
    4. Large construction projects e.g. dam building
  • The making of large projects is also known as project production
  • Job production also covers crafts such as pottery making
  • Job production often involves skill e.g. welding and fabrication, painting etc

Advantages of job production

  • Unique products are made e.g. designer jewelry
  • High quality products
  • Motivated workers who take pride in their work
  • Custom products which fulfill the customer’s needs
  • Flexible production  process
  • Can provide specialist equipment and services even for out of production products e.g. parts for collector’s cars

Disadvantages of job production

  • Slow production compared to other methods of production
  • Requires a lot of skill
  • Little room for automation of routine tasks
  • There is repetition of tasks
  • This all results with a higher cost of production relative to the other methods of production
  • Limited production levels prevents the business from taking advantage of the economies of scale
  • Makes standardization difficult
  • Is labor intensive

NB It is possible to use machines under job production although most of these machines might also require skill to operate effectively and efficiently

To access more topics go to the O Level Business Notes