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Batching, in the context of materials processing, refers to the preparation or requirement of a specific quantity of material for a single operation. This can involve a group of items processed together, such as a batch of concrete weighed out using specialized equipment.12

In manufacturing, programmable automation utilizes batching to produce goods in quantities ranging from dozens to thousands of units. This requires reprogramming and changing over equipment for each new batch, leading to periods of nonproductive time. This contrasts with fixed automation, which is designed for high-volume, continuous production, and flexible automation, which allows for rapid, automatic product changeovers and can produce a mix of products without batching.3

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