Layout Planning
Layout is simply the physical location or configuration of departments, work centers, and equipment in the conversion process; spatial arrangement of physical resources used to create the product.Computers are used to create productive layout and design alternatives.Widely used design software is Auto CAD.Other software are also used in order to calculate total costs relationships, improve the quality of designs, for example (adobe Photoshop).
The primary goal of any industrial engineer while designing the plant layout is to optimize the productivity and costs. In order to optimize, movement of workers, materials and machines are recorded and the proper layout is planned and designed.Various work study techniques like string diagrams,time study, man-machine charts are used to give additional accuracy in designing layout.Nowadays, Participative management and employee involvement have become an integral part of effective layout planning as well. In modern days, where the desire of the consumers are erratic, selling new projects and products and effective implementation are the results of sound layout practice.
Layout concepts
Three basic layouts are in common practice; process-oriented, product oriented, and fixed position.
The nature of the product describes the type of work flow which,in turn,is used to decide the type of layout to be used.The need to choose the right layout for an organization is to improve the productivity, the quality of the product and services and the product delivery rates.
Process Oriented Layout:
It is appropriate for intermittent operations(operations involving low product volume, general purpose equipments, labor intense operations , made-to-order products etc.) when work flow is not consistent for all output. Variable work flow occurs when a variety of products or variations on a single product are produced. Distribution warehouses, hospitals, universities, office buildings, and small shops often use a process layout.
Product Layout:
A product oriented layout is appropriate for producing one standardized product, usually in large volume. Each unit of output requires the same sequence of operations from beginning to the end. Work centers and equipments are arranged in such a way that each work centers performs one highly specialized part of the total product buildup sequence. Automatic car washes, cafeterias, garment industries, beverage bottlers use product-oriented Layout.
Fixed Positioned layout:
The arrangement of a facility where the product stays in one location; tools, equipments,and workers are brought to it as needed is fixed positioned layout. A home plumbing repair service, manufacturing large motor parts uses fixed position layout.
Combination Layout:
Often combination layouts must be used. Most typically, a process layout is combined with a product layout.For Example: While manufacturing a refrigerator, first, process oriented layouts are used to produce various parts and sub-components.All the components are brought to assembly and product oriented layouts are used to produce in high volume. In addition, if the refrigerator encounters some problem, mechanic visits the location where he has been called to give the service, which is a description of fixed position layout.
Layout is simply the physical location or configuration of departments, work centers, and equipment in the conversion process; spatial arrangement of physical resources used to create the product.Computers are used to create productive layout and design alternatives.Widely used design software is Auto CAD.Other software are also used in order to calculate total costs relationships, improve the quality of designs, for example (adobe Photoshop).
The primary goal of any industrial engineer while designing the plant layout is to optimize the productivity and costs. In order to optimize, movement of workers, materials and machines are recorded and the proper layout is planned and designed.Various work study techniques like string diagrams,time study, man-machine charts are used to give additional accuracy in designing layout.Nowadays, Participative management and employee involvement have become an integral part of effective layout planning as well. In modern days, where the desire of the consumers are erratic, selling new projects and products and effective implementation are the results of sound layout practice.
Layout concepts
Three basic layouts are in common practice; process-oriented, product oriented, and fixed position.
The nature of the product describes the type of work flow which,in turn,is used to decide the type of layout to be used.The need to choose the right layout for an organization is to improve the productivity, the quality of the product and services and the product delivery rates.
Process Oriented Layout:
It is appropriate for intermittent operations(operations involving low product volume, general purpose equipments, labor intense operations , made-to-order products etc.) when work flow is not consistent for all output. Variable work flow occurs when a variety of products or variations on a single product are produced. Distribution warehouses, hospitals, universities, office buildings, and small shops often use a process layout.
Product Layout:
A product oriented layout is appropriate for producing one standardized product, usually in large volume. Each unit of output requires the same sequence of operations from beginning to the end. Work centers and equipments are arranged in such a way that each work centers performs one highly specialized part of the total product buildup sequence. Automatic car washes, cafeterias, garment industries, beverage bottlers use product-oriented Layout.
Fixed Positioned layout:
The arrangement of a facility where the product stays in one location; tools, equipments,and workers are brought to it as needed is fixed positioned layout. A home plumbing repair service, manufacturing large motor parts uses fixed position layout.
Combination Layout:
Often combination layouts must be used. Most typically, a process layout is combined with a product layout.For Example: While manufacturing a refrigerator, first, process oriented layouts are used to produce various parts and sub-components.All the components are brought to assembly and product oriented layouts are used to produce in high volume. In addition, if the refrigerator encounters some problem, mechanic visits the location where he has been called to give the service, which is a description of fixed position layout.
