(a.k.a. “Batch Processing”) Producing lots or quantities of a product in order to achieve maximum “Economic Order Quantities” (EOQ).
Comments: Although some products must be batched to maximize use of equipment with long cycle times, often batching is wrongly assumed to be more economical than single piece production for various reasons.
Often when large “batches” are the preferred operating mode it is due to excessively long or difficult changeover practices. Improving changeover techniques through SMED implementation will generally minimizes lot or “batch” sizes, reduce finished goods inventory on-hand, allow for increased varieties of products that can be made more quickly, and ultimately lead to greater customer responsiveness.