Facility Layouts

Facility layout is an arrangement of machines, storage areas,

and/or work areas usually within the confines of a physical
structure, such as a retail store, an office, a warehouse, or a
manufacturing facility.

Services have work flows, just as manufacturers do. Often the

work flow is paper, information, or even the customers. We
introduce layouts for manufacturers, then by example relate
the layouts to services.

The right layout for an organization will improve productivity,

the quantity of the product or services, and delivery rates.
 Features of Good Layout
 Reduces bottlenecks in moving people or
material.
 Minimizes materials-handling costs.
 Reduces hazards to personnel.
 Utilizes labor efficiently.
 Increases morale.
 Utilizes available space effectively and
efficiently.
 Provides flexibility.
 Provides ease of supervision.
 Facilitates coordination and face-to-face
communication where appropriate.
Objectives of a Good Layout
 Provide enough production capacity
 Reduce material handling costs
 Reduce congestion that impedes the movement of people or
material
 Reduce hazards to personnel
 Utilize labour efficiently
 Increase employee morale
 Reduce accidents
 Utilize available space efficiently and effectively
 Provide ease of supervision
 Facilitate co-ordination and face-to-face communication where
appropriate
 Provide employee safety and health
 Allow ease of maintenance
 Allow high machine/equipment utilization
 Improve productivity.