Facility Planning and Design

Introduction to Facility Planning and Design

• Effective facility planning enhances competitive advantage and productivity through modern design concepts.
• Incorporates technologies that enable flexibility in response to product or service changes, and demand variations.
• Layouts can include innovative designs such as T-shaped buildings and mobile desks for dynamic work environments.

Facility Layout

• Arrangement of activities, processes, workspaces, and storage areas is crucial for operational efficiency.
• Primary goal of layout design is to facilitate smooth workflows of materials, people, and information.

Importance of Good Layout

• Minimizes movement and material handling costs.
• Optimizes space and labor utilization.
• Reduces bottlenecks and manufacturing cycle times.
• Enhances communication and interaction among employees and with customers.
• Aids safety measures, promotes product quality, and improves maintenance activities.
• Allows for flexibility in adapting to changes and boosts employee morale.

Types of Facility Layouts

Process Layout

• Grouping of similar tasks and equipment to streamline workflow.
• Common in manufacturing settings where processes are functionally organized.

Product Layout

• Organizes workstations in a sequence that reflects the production process.
• Promotes teamwork by involving members from inception to completion.
• Uses flexible arrangements like U-shaped or O-shaped layouts.

Layout Strategies and Considerations

• Global perspective on layouts exemplified by McDonald's.
• Key considerations involve utilization of space, equipment, and workforce; improving information flow; and ensuring safer working conditions.

Types of Layouts

• Office Layout: Enhances information movement and worker efficiency.
• Retail Layout: Allocates space based on consumer behavior to maximize sales.
• Warehouse Layout: Balances material handling with space efficiency.
• Fixed-Position Layout: Common for large projects; product remains stationary while workers and machinery are flexible around it.
• Process-Oriented Layout: Tailored for low-volume, high-variety production needs.

Fixed-Position Layout

• Utilized for immovable products like ships or construction projects.
• Workers and equipment come to the product’s location.
• Compounded by factors like limited space and dynamic material needs.

Cellular Layouts

• Combines elements of both product and fixed-position layouts.
• Work cells consist of cross-trained employees to enhance communication and efficiency.
• U-shaped designs improve access, reduce worker movement, and facilitate supervision.

Repetitive and Product-Oriented Layout

• Configured around high-volume, low-variety products to ensure thorough equipment utilization.
• Product demand stability justifies the investment in specialized machinery.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Product-Oriented Layouts

• Advantages include low costs per unit, reduced handling costs, and easier training processes.
• Disadvantages can include challenges in balancing workloads and potential inefficiencies in task distribution.

This quiz introduces the importance of facility planning and design in gaining a competitive edge, improving quality and productivity, and leveraging technology. Learn how planned facilities can impact worker efficiency, production throughput, and respond to changes in product or service design.