Mixed-model production is a manufacturing approach in which different product models, configurations, or variants are built on the same line, cell, or work center within a planned sequence.
In industrial operations, it is commonly used when demand requires variety without dedicating a separate line to each product. The products usually share enough process steps, equipment, tooling, or operator skills to move through a common production flow, even if options, materials, cycle times, or work instructions differ by unit.
Mixed-model production is often associated with high-mix environments, lean scheduling, line balancing, and heijunka-style leveling. In MES, ERP, or planning contexts, it may affect routing logic, material kitting, operator guidance, changeover planning, and traceability by serial number, lot, or configuration.
It should not be confused with simple batch production. Batch production groups similar units together for a period of time, while mixed-model production interleaves different models or variants in a controlled sequence.