大象传媒

Methods of productionReasons for production choices

All production operations combine the two factors of labour and capital. The importance of labour and capital to a specific business are described in terms of their intensity.

Part of Business managementOperations

Reasons for production choices

Worker operating machinery on production line in factory
Figure caption,
Many companies cannot afford the expense of capital intensive methods of production

Whether a company chooses to use or methods of production will involve many factors:

  • Finance available - a large amount of capital is required to invest in capital intensive production. Some businesses may not be able to afford to invest in this method of production
  • Quantity - if large quantities of identical goods are required then a company will be more likely to use capital intensive methods of production. Whereas if the product being supplied is a low quantity of a tailored product then labour intensive methods would be preferred
  • Technology - if the required technology to produce the goods is unavailable than the company would have no choice but to use labour intensive