# Manufacturing Process Types and Product-Process Matrix Reference > Source: https://netray.co/tools/manufacturing-process-types-product-process-matrix-reference > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Compare project, job shop, batch, cell, repetitive, assembly line and continuous processes by volume, variety, layout, planning approach and typical ERP setup. ## Category manufacturing ## Audience - Plant manager - COO - Operations strategist ## Tool **Kind:** worksheet **Mode:** reference **Columns:** #### Process type **Key:** type **Type:** text #### Volume **Key:** volume **Type:** text #### Product variety **Key:** variety **Type:** text #### Typical layout **Key:** layout **Type:** text #### Flow **Key:** flow **Type:** text #### Example **Key:** example **Type:** text #### Planning approach **Key:** planning **Type:** text #### Typical ERP setup **Key:** erp **Type:** text #### Main watch-out **Key:** watch **Type:** text **Rows:** **Type:** Project **Volume:** One **Variety:** Unique **Layout:** Fixed position **Flow:** None, work comes to the product **Example:** Shipbuilding, large press line install **Planning:** Network scheduling, milestones **Erp:** Project module with WBS and milestones **Watch:** Schedule slip and cost overruns on changes **Type:** Job shop **Volume:** Low **Variety:** Very high **Layout:** Functional departments **Flow:** Jumbled **Example:** Custom machining, tool and die **Planning:** Finite scheduling, dispatch lists **Erp:** Job based routings, engineer to order or make to order **Watch:** Long queue times, hard to forecast load **Type:** Batch **Volume:** Low to medium **Variety:** High **Layout:** Functional or hybrid **Flow:** Interrupted **Example:** Aerospace components, specialty chemicals **Planning:** MRP with lot sizing, work center capacity **Erp:** Standard discrete MRP with routings **Watch:** Setup time and batch size trade-offs **Type:** Manufacturing cell **Volume:** Medium **Variety:** Medium **Layout:** Cellular, part families **Flow:** Short loops **Example:** Machine cell for part family **Planning:** Pull within cell, MRP outside **Erp:** Cell as work center, labor reporting by cell **Watch:** Cell balance and cross training **Type:** Repetitive **Volume:** High **Variety:** Low to medium **Layout:** Product line **Flow:** Continuous discrete **Example:** Appliances, electronics assembly **Planning:** Rate based, kanban, line scheduling **Erp:** Repetitive or rate based module, backflush **Watch:** Line changeovers and component supply **Type:** Assembly line **Volume:** High **Variety:** Low **Layout:** Product line, paced **Flow:** Line balanced **Example:** Automotive final assembly **Planning:** Takt time, sequence scheduling **Erp:** Line scheduling, VIN or serial tracking **Watch:** Line stoppage cost is very high **Type:** Continuous or process **Volume:** Very high **Variety:** Very low **Layout:** Product, fixed equipment **Flow:** Continuous **Example:** Petrochemicals, paper, cement **Planning:** Capacity maximization, campaign planning **Erp:** Process manufacturing with formulas and co-products **Watch:** Unplanned shutdown and yield loss **Type:** Batch process **Volume:** Medium **Variety:** Medium **Layout:** Vessels and process units **Flow:** Batch by recipe **Example:** Pharmaceuticals, food, paints **Planning:** Recipe scheduling, campaign sequencing **Erp:** Formula, lot traceability, potency or grade attributes **Watch:** Cleaning and changeover between batches **Type:** Make to stock **Volume:** High **Variety:** Low **Layout:** Any **Flow:** Planned to forecast **Example:** Standard fasteners **Planning:** Forecast and replenishment **Erp:** Forecast driven MRP, safety stock **Watch:** Obsolete inventory if forecast misses **Type:** Assemble to order **Volume:** Medium **Variety:** High options, few modules **Layout:** Final assembly cell **Flow:** Modules stocked, final to order **Example:** Configured industrial equipment **Planning:** Module forecast, final assembly schedule **Erp:** Planning BOM, configurator **Watch:** Option mix forecasting **Type:** Make to order **Volume:** Low to medium **Variety:** High **Layout:** Functional or hybrid **Flow:** Started on customer order **Example:** Specified pumps **Planning:** Order driven MRP, promise date calculation **Erp:** Sales order linked production, available to promise **Watch:** Lead time must be competitive **Type:** Engineer to order **Volume:** Low **Variety:** Unique **Layout:** Functional or fixed position **Flow:** Design then build **Example:** Custom machinery **Planning:** Project plans with engineering gates **Erp:** Project costing, engineering BOM, change control **Watch:** Design change cost after build starts **Notes:** Classic product-process matrix logic: moving from job shop toward continuous flow trades flexibility for unit cost. Real plants often mix types, and ERP setup depends on the product in question. ## Content **Intro:** Choosing how to organise production starts with volume and variety. This reference compares the main process types, from project and job shop to continuous flow, with layout, planning approach and how each is usually represented in an ERP. **Sections:** #### How to use the table **Body:** Find the row closest to each of your product families and note the planning approach and ERP column. Plants are rarely a single type: a company may run a job shop for prototypes, batch for standard parts and a line for its volume product. Export the table to Excel, add a column for your own families and use it in strategy or ERP selection discussions. #### The product-process matrix **Body:** The product-process matrix, described by Hayes and Wheelwright, plots process structure against product structure. Low volume, high variety work sits at the job shop end, high volume standard work at the continuous flow end. Staying on the diagonal usually matches cost to need. Off diagonal positions can be deliberate, for instance a niche job shop with premium pricing, but they need a clear reason. #### Delivery strategy versus process **Body:** Make to stock, assemble to order, make to order and engineer to order describe how far inventory is held ahead of the customer order. They are separate from the physical process. A batch process can be make to stock or make to order. Mixing them up is a common source of ERP configuration mistakes, since planning logic differs for each. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Applying lean line balancing to a job shop without grouping part families, forcing finite scheduling on a continuous plant, and buying an ERP module designed for a different process type are frequent errors. Check whether the system supports your dominant type natively before relying on customisation. **Cta:** If you are matching an ERP to your process mix, Netray can talk through how common systems handle each type. The reference works without us. **Faq:** #### What is the difference between batch and repetitive manufacturing? **Answer:** Batch work is made in lots with changeovers and varied routings. Repetitive work flows at a set rate on a dedicated line with little variation. Repetitive is higher volume, lower variety and usually planned by rate rather than by order. #### Can one plant have several process types? **Answer:** Yes, and most do. It is common to run different areas as job shop, cell and line. Map each product family separately for planning and costing. #### Which process type is the most flexible? **Answer:** A job shop is the most flexible, as general purpose machines and skilled operators can make many different parts. The trade-off is higher unit cost, longer lead time and harder scheduling. #### Does ERP choice depend on process type? **Answer:** Strongly. Discrete, process (formula based) and project-driven manufacturing need different features. Check that the planning, costing and traceability model fits before you shortlist. ## Search terms manufacturing process types, job shop vs batch vs continuous, product process matrix, make to order vs make to stock process, repetitive manufacturing definition, types of production systems, process choice operations strategy --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json