Facility Layout
The physical arrangement of
resources (including people) in
the production process.
What Is Layout
Planning
Layout planning is determining the
best physical arrangement of
resources within a facility
9-3
Facility layout refers to the specific arrangement
of physical facilities. Facility-layout studies are
necessary whenever:
1. a new facility is constructed,
2. there is a significant change in demand or
throughput volume,
3. a new good or service is introduced to the
customer benefit package, or
4. different processes, equipment, and/or
technology are installed.
Purposes of layout studies are to:
minimize delays in production, materials handling
and customer movement
maintain flexibility
use labor and space effectively
promote high employee morale and customer
satisfaction
provide for good housekeeping and maintenance
enhance sales as appropriate in manufacturing and
service facilities
Importance of Facility Layout
Minimize delays in production, materials handling and
customer movement
Maintain flexibility
Use labor and space effectively
Promote high employee morale and customer
satisfaction
Provide for good housekeeping and maintenance
Enhance sales as appropriate in manufacturing and
service facilities
Minimum Equipment Investment
Improved quality control
Revision of Layout
1.
Expansion
2.
Technological Advancement
3.
Increase in the output of the existing product
Introduction of a new product in the same line &
Diversification of the lines of activity
Replacement of labour by machines
Developments in fuel and energy
Development in process
Development in materials
Improvement in product design
Advancement in IT
Improvement in the layout
Types of Layouts
Process layouts:
Product layouts:
Designed to produce a specific product efficiently
Hybrid layouts:
Group similar resources together
Combine aspects of both process and product layouts
Fixed-Position layouts:
Product is two large to move; e.g. a building
Process Layouts
General purpose & flexible resources
Lower capital intensity & automation
Higher labor intensity
Resources have greater flexibility
Processing rates are slower
Material handling costs are higher
Scheduling resources & work flow is more
complex
Space requirements are higher
Process Layout for a Machine
Shop
Product Layouts
Specialized equipment
High capital intensity & wide use of
automation
Processing rates are faster
Material handling costs are lower
Less space required for inventories
Less volume or design flexibility
Product Layout for Wine Manufacturer
Assembly Line Layout
Comparison of Product vs. Product Layouts
Process Layouts
Product Layouts
Products:
large #, different
small # efficiently
Resources:
general purpose
specialized
Facilities:
more labor intensive
more capital intensive
Flexibility:
greater relative to market
lower relative to market
Processing
Rates:
slower
faster
Handling costs: high
low
Space requirements: higher
lower
Designing Process Layouts
Step 1: Gather information:
Step 2: Develop alternative block plans:
Space needed, space available, importance of
proximity between various units
Using trial-and-error or decision support tools
Step 3: Develop a detailed layout
Consider exact sizes and shapes of departments
and work centers including aisles and stairways
Tools like drawings, 3-D models, and CAD
software are available to facilitate this process
Process Layout Steps
Step 1: Gather information like space needed, from-to matrix,
and REL Chart for Recovery First Sports Medicine Clinic (total
space 3750 sq. ft.)
A
Radiology
B
Laboratory
400 sq. ft.
300 sq. ft.
C
Lobby &
Waiting
300 sq. ft.
D
Examining
Rooms
800 sq. ft.
E
Surgery &
Recovery
900 sq. ft.
F
Physical
Therapy
1050 sq. ft.
Fixed Position Layout
9-19
Cellular Manufacturing Layout
Machines are grouped into cells
Cell function like a product layout within a large
shop or process layout.
Each cell in the CM layout is formed to produce a
single parts family- a few parts, all with common
characteristics.
These relate to the grouping of equipment and
include faster processing time, less material
handling, less work-in-process inventory, and
reduced setup time.
Used when the operations system must handle a
moderate variety of products in moderate volumes
Cellular Layout
Process (Functional) Layout
Group (Cellular) Layout
A cluster
or cell
T
T
M
M
T
T
M
M
T
T
D
D
CG
SG
D
D
Similar resources placed
together
CG
SG
SG
CG
CG
D
D
SG
Resources to produce similar
products placed together