5.1.1.1. Specialisation of Skills/Methods of Production

Manufacturing involves a full array of production from handicrafts to moulding iron and steel and stamping out plastic toys to assembling delicate computer components or space vehicles. In each of these processes, the common characteristics are the application of power, mass production of identical products and specialised labour in factory settings for the production of standardised commodities.

Manufacturing is the process of turning raw materials into finished goods ready for sale. This can range from simple items made by hand to complex machinery produced in factories. A key aspect of manufacturing is that it involves using tools and machines to create many identical products, which helps lower production costs. Specialised workers focus on specific tasks to enhance efficiency.

Think of a bakery. When a baker makes bread, they might have one person mixing the dough, another shaping it, and someone else baking it. By having each person focus on one part of the process, they can produce many loaves of bread quickly and efficiently, much like how factories operate.

Modern large scale manufacturing has the following characteristics: (i) a complex machine technology (ii) extreme specialisation and division of labour for producing more goods with less effort, and low costs (iii) vast capital (iv) large organisations (v) executive bureaucracy.

Modern manufacturing relies heavily on advanced machinery and technology, which helps in producing goods at a large scale. Each worker often specializes in a single task, which increases productivity and reduces costs. Large amounts of capital investment are required to set up these manufacturing operations, along with structured organizations to manage them efficiently.

Consider a car manufacturing plant. This plant uses robots for assembling parts, workers to handle specific tasks, and various technologies to keep everything running smoothly. It's a large organization that requires significant money to build and operate but works efficiently due to its specialized processes.

Under the ‘craft’ method factories produce only a few pieces which are made-to-order. So the costs are high. On the other hand, mass production involves production of large quantities of standardised parts by each worker performing only one task repeatedly.

In manufacturing, there are two primary methods: craft production and mass production. Craft production involves skilled artisans creating custom, often unique items. This method is expensive and time-consuming. In contrast, mass production focuses on creating large quantities of identical items quickly and efficiently, which lowers costs and meets consumer demand more effectively.

Think of a hand-made necklace versus a factory-made one. The handmade necklace takes a lot of time and effort, making it more expensive. A factory produces thousands of similar necklaces quickly, making them cheaper and widely available, similar to how clothing is produced in bulk.

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