Batch size

Concept

The number of units made or moved together before the next step starts. Large batches cut changeovers but raise stock and lead time; small batches do the opposite.

Title graphic: Batch size (Concept)

Opis

Batch size, in German Losgröße, is how many units are made or moved together before the next step can start. Each batch waits while the others in it are processed, so a larger batch means longer waiting for every unit and more work in progress.

Plants choose large batches mainly because changeovers are costly. The classic economic order quantity formula balances changeover cost against holding cost, but lean thinking asks a different question: how can changeover time be cut so that smaller batches become affordable? Smaller batches shorten lead time, show quality problems sooner and make the plant more flexible. The extreme is one-piece flow, where each unit moves on as soon as it is done.

Typ	Concept
Znane także jako	Lot size, Losgröße, Production batch, Transfer batch

Articles about Batch size (1)

Batch Size in Manufacturing: How Smaller Batches Cut Lead Time
2026-11-11 · Mirko Peters
Batch size in manufacturing decides how long parts wait. See why smaller batches cut lead time, what they cost and when short changeovers make them pay off.

Relationship map of Batch size: linked topics

Related to

iFAKT GmbH · Organization
Setup time · Concept
SMED · Concept
Work in progress (WIP) · Concept
Lead time · Concept
Heijunka · Concept

Słownik

Community wiki

Short info above, community knowledge below: add practical tips, examples or corrections. New contributions are reviewed first; trusted members publish directly.

Eksperci i firmy w tym temacie

Mirko Peters · Microsoft MVP

Sources

Feed for this topic (RSS): entity/batch-size/feed.xml
Articles on this topic: 1

Maintained by Mirko Peters (Microsoft MVP) · Last updated: 2026-11-11