The common different production methods are as follows:
one-off,
small batch,
mass or continuous production
All of these have different design requirements, related to the differences between types of product, client expectation, and the scale of operation.
There are differences in the relationship between the designer and the client, who gives the designer their brief.
- In one-off production the designer is frequently the maker as well. The client is usually the end-user of the product, and will have high expectations about the quality of the product. The designer will nearly always have a direct relationship with the client, so it is essential that the designer is fully conversant with the end-user’s requirements.
- In batch production the process of designing is more formalised, but the number of people involved may still be quite small. The client may be the user, but is more likely to be another company who sell the product. The designer will not necessarily have any contact with the end-user of the product.
- In mass and continuous flow production the processes of designing and manufacturing are much more formal. Making of changes can become slower and far more costly. The design team are dependent on other people feeding back the end-users’ views. How might this be done?
