what is flow production

Flow production, also known as continuous production, is a manufacturing process that involves the continuous and uninterrupted production of a given product. The process connects a series of workstations into an assembly line, with the goal of increasing productivity, reducing costs, and minimizing waste. Flow production is most useful for companies that are involved in mass production, i.e., production of the same or similar products in large quantities. The process is generally highly automated, which means it requires only minimal oversight from a labor force, although quality control checks are always needed. Flow production is capital-intensive, meaning it uses a high proportion of machinery in relation to workers, as is the case on an assembly line. The advantage of this is that a high number of products can roll off assembly lines at very low cost. However, the main disadvantage is that with so much machinery, it is very difficult to alter the production process, making production inflexible.