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Batch Processing: What Is It?

Batch processing is producing large amounts of the same item, often in advance based on forecasting made by the company.

Batch processing is the enemy of Lean – as it often results in  over production (one of the Eight Wastes) requires much larger warehousing, additional travel of goods and is not based on real-time customer demand.  Batch processing can also result in unevenness (another enemy of Lean), as large batches are created followed by periods of downtime.

The opposite of Batch Processing is Continuous Flow, and especially One Piece Flow where an item is created in the same space and time based on the demand (Pull) of the customer.

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