Cbmec1 M13 Wed
Cbmec1 M13 Wed
MODULE 13
Wednesday
FACILITY LAYOUT
Minimum movements
o It is very common that the process of an area in a warehouse consists of
several steps, it could be seen as a chain of tasks to be performed to
achieve the overall objective of the activity.
For this reason, the product and the operators must be moved
several times to reach the next step.
o These movements do not provide real value, but are necessary to bring
goods from one station to another.
Therefore, the objective is to reduce them as much as possible.
o The less movements, both in number and in distance, the less time will be
invested in this necessary task, but with no added value.
Sources:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/facility-layout.htm
https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/facility-layout-and-design.html
It is possible to leave additional place for possible workload peaks,
but the use of more staff than required in a task may be
unproductive for the defined process.
o Furthermore, it is known that performing in a man/hour ratio, work
performed by more people in fewer hours is less productive than its
equivalent with the original number of people working additional hours,
because the flow will be continuous.
Additionally, using more space for one workspace means less
available space for other areas or tasks that are part of the overall
process.
Sources:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/facility-layout.htm
https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/facility-layout-and-design.html
Factors in determining layout and design
Ease of future expansion or change
o Facilities should be designed so that they can be easily expanded or
adjusted to meet changing production needs.
Although redesigning a facility is a major, expensive undertaking not
to be done lightly, there is always the possibility that a redesign will
be necessary,
Therefore, any design should be flexible.
o Flexible manufacturing systems most often are highly automated facilities
having intermediate-volume production of a variety of products.
Their goal is to minimize changeover or setup times for producing the
different products while still achieving close to assembly line
(single-product) production rates.
Flow of movement
o The facility design should reflect a recognition of the importance of smooth
process flow.
The flow need not be a straight line.
o Parallel flows, U-shaped patterns, or even a zig-zag that ends up with the
finished product back at the shipping and receiving bays can be functional.
However, backtracking is to be avoided in whatever pattern is
chosen.
o When parts and materials move against or across the overall flow,
personnel and paperwork become confused, parts become lost, and the
attainment of coordination becomes complicated.
Materials handling
o Company should make certain that the facility layout makes it possible to
handle materials (products, equipment, containers, etc.) in an orderly,
efficient—and preferably simple—manner.
Output needs
o The facility should be laid out in a way that is conducive to helping the
business meet its production needs.
Space utilization
o This aspect of facility design includes everything from making sure that
traffic lanes are wide enough to making certain that inventory storage
warehouses or rooms utilize as much vertical space as possible.
Sources:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/facility-layout.htm
https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/facility-layout-and-design.html
Shipping and receiving
o Leave ample room for this aspect of operations.
While space does tend to fill itself up, receiving and shipping rarely
get enough space for the work to be done effectively.
Promotional value
o If the business commonly receives visitors in the form of customers,
vendors, investors, make sure that the facility layout is an attractive one
that further burnishes the company's reputation.
Design factors that can influence the degree of attractiveness of a
facility include not only the design of the production area itself, but
the impact that it has on, for instance, ease of fulfilling
maintenance/cleaning tasks.
Safety
o The facility layout should enable the business to effectively operate in
accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines
and other legal restrictions.
Sources:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/facility-layout.htm
https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/facility-layout-and-design.html