When beginning a career in fabrication, you’ll have a choice between finding employment in a job shop or a production shop. Each of these work sites contains machinery dedicated to producing a wide range of goods for a variety of purposes. They differ in the amount and types of equipment they use and, consequently, the work that they can offer. In the following guide, take a closer look at the factors that distinguish these facilities as you decide which one you want to employ your skills in.

What Differentiates Job Shops From Production Shops?

1. Capabilities

Flow shops are typically dedicated to the production of a fixed selection of items in an assembly-line-like structure. As such, the fabrication specialists who staff them can turn out large numbers of goods in short order because they’re often larger and include more specialized subsections and technicians. Job shops, on the other hand, tend to be smaller and more versatile, able to adapt to smaller orders using a more limited number of general-purpose machines.

2. Product Variety

In general, production shops offer catalogs containing a more limited number of items that can be standardized and produced quickly in large amounts. This makes the work predictable and high volume. 

Demand for products from job shops can vary widely depending on customers’ needs and orders, which can make them more challenging to work in, but also more exciting. The key advantage of job shops is their ability to turn out a wide range of products in non-standardized formats to meet specific needs.

3. Individual Skills

Because job shops often have several employees working on different projects, and because their orders can change quickly between jobs, each technician working in one needs to be highly trained and proficient in the use of an extensive range of machines and tools. Although the more standardized tasks in a production shop may be easier to complete, focusing on a narrower set of tasks and responsibilities can limit technicians’ abilities to come up with innovative solutions to problems and their prospects in the fabrication field in the future.

When fabrication specialists want to maximize their potential and their prospects, they can turn to Wilson Machine & Welding. Serving clients throughout Cordova, Decatur, and Hillsboro, AL since 1972, this local welding and fabrication shop specializes in the production of a variety of purpose-made parts to suit your company’s needs. Call (205) 648-3203 to ask about career opportunities, or visit them online for more information.