Job shop

A job shop is a manufacturing arrangement in which small batches of a wide variety of custom products are made, most of them needing a unique set-up and sequence of process steps. Typical examples are machine tool shops, machining centers, paint shops and commercial print shops that make parts to order for other businesses. Similar machines are grouped together by function, such as all drill presses in one area and grinders in another, and general-purpose equipment is used rather than dedicated tooling. Each job follows its own route, often a jumbled one that returns to the same machine several times. Skilled craft workers operate several classes of machinery, and information (quoting, job sheets, routing and time cards) is the most critical resource. Because volume is low, job shops compete on quality, speed and customization rather than price. As volume grows, a manufacturer usually moves from job shop to batch flow, assembly line and then continuous flow.