2013 International Conference on Management Science & Engineering (20th)

July 17-19, 2013 Harbin, P.R.China

Systematic Layout Planning: A Study on Coal Mine Facilities

LI HuiQU Shi-you
School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.R.China, 150001

Abstract: With information age approaching, for the
fierce competition between enterprises, the large-scale
machinery plants, such as the coal mine, begin to apply
the scientific and lean management with modern
technology. The sound layout is instrumental in
controlling cost and increasing efficiency, so the
managers think highly of the ground and transportation
system layout of coal mine, as has become a newer
research field. The coal mine, with the designed output
of 900 thousand tons per year, is located in a mountain
area, and because of the complex terrain and limited
space, it is significant to layout the coal mine properly.
This article analyzes the characteristics of the coal mine
in Shanxi province, China, with Systematic Layout
Planning (SLP), to project the optimal layout pattern.
First the coal mine is divided into some related
operational departments, and their relationship among
departments is evaluated after the analysis of work flow,
logistics and non-logistics, so the comprehensive
closeness of each department can be qualified. Then the
departments are arranged according to the closeness rank
calculated. Finally, the optimized layout plan is obtained
according to on-site fieldwork. The finding contributes to
the coal mine with limited space.
Keywords: coal mine, ground layout, logistics, SLP
algorithm so as to improve SLPs stability and
application[4]. Mujing-Ye, Gengui-Zhou (2005)
introduced genetic algorithm and avoided SLPs
subjectivity and handwork complex[5]. Yang(2000)
evaluated the multiple SLP schemes with AHP method[6].
Jianhua-Yang, Pengli-Jing, and Yongqing-Yang (2009)
brought forward the enterprise logistics redesign method
based on the combination of SLP and SHA[7].
Qiuping-Wang, Tingting-Liu, and Qizhang(2012)
combined ordered sample clustering method to SLP. In
view of the fact A-U dividing level determined by the
experienced proportion is always subjective, ambiguous
and uncertainty, the ordered sample clustering method
was applied to dividing the intensity level of logistics[8].
In summary, researchers have applied SLP in so many
fields, but few in coal mine industry, and because of the
complex terrain and the limited space, it is significant to
layout the coal mine properly. According to the statistics,
in the developed countries 1/4 of the production facilities
needs the re-layout, while in our country, enterprises pay
more attention to the outside logistics and less to the
inside logistics. In this article, we analyze the
characteristics of the coal mine in Shanxi, as an example
of the underground mining enterprises, with SLP, to
project the optimal layout pattern.

1 Introduction
With information times coming, for the fierce
competition between enterprises, the big machinery
plants, such as the coal mines, begin to apply the
scientific and lean management with modern technology.
For example, the reasonable layout is helpful to control
the cost and increase the efficiency, so the managers
think highly of the ground and transportation system
layout of coal mine, as has become a newer field of the
related researchers[1].
Traditionally, there are two ways to layout the
facilities. The first one is the quantitative method, which
is based on the transportation distance between the
departments to decrease the logistics cost[2]. And the
second one is the qualitative method, which depends on
the relationship between the departments and is
represented by SLP put forward by Richard Muther in
1961[3]. SLP is self-consistent and combines the analyses
of department relationship and logistics, after that
Te-King Chien(2004) led into new definition and
2 Methodology
2.1 Research method
SLP combines the analysis of logistics and
department relationship to search for the proper layout,
which fits not only to the different scale and kind of
plants when newly-building, expanding and
reconstruction, but also to other organizations, such as
office, lab, warehouse, hospital and store, etc[9]. The
concrete steps are as follows:
A. analyze the relationship between the work units
(logistics and non-logistics), including the 5 factors, that
is P(products and materials), Q(quantity), R(production
route), S(supplementary departments), T(time) [10].
B. synthesize to draw the work relationship chart.
C. allocate the positions of the work units[11.
D. integrate the work units positions with factual
floor areas.
E. by revising and adjusting, get several feasible
plans.
F. evaluate the plans to get the best[12].

- 1944 -
978-1-4799-0474-7/13/$31.00 2013 IEEE
2.2 Technique route of this article
The technique route of this article is shown in Fig.1.
The coal mines present situation
The coal mines layout
principle
SLP
Improve the coal mines layout with SLP
The optimized layout
plan
Fig.1 Technique route chart
3 The present situation of and the analysis of
the coal mine
3.1 The coal mines present situation
The coal mine is located in the hillside and its
landform is long and circuitous, with no broad platform
to make the most proper layout for the units. There is a
deep ditch on one side of the coalmine, which leads to
the hill-creep and does harm to the stability of the
facilities, besides, which provides a natural depot for the
waste rock mined.
The core production unit in the plant is heapstead ,
in which the host well (elevating the coal) is adjacent to
the by-pit (people and material passageway), and right by
Legend
1.derrick, 2. control center, 3. office building, 4. material
and equipment store house, 5. hinge garage, 6. repairing
workshop, 7. transportation belt, 8. coal warehouse, 9.
bath house, 10. canteen, 11. staff apartment, 12. parking
shed, 13. library, 14. boiler house, 15. air pump house,
16. pond (for life and fire protection)
3
13
Fig.2 The present layout of the coal mine
- 1945 -
which, there are two hinge garage to provide the tanker
power. Close to the derricks are belt trestle bridge,
screening workshop, and silo in accordance with the
coals flow direction. The departments indirectly serve
for the production including the repairing mill, material
mill, equipment storehouse, miner light room, office
building, control center and meeting room. The boiler
house, air pump house and pond are three important
facilities to insure the coal mines normal operation but
have less to do with the production. The present layout of
the coal mine is shown in Fig.2.
3.2 The analysis of the present layout
Advantages: Coal, trucks, staff and material have
their own transportation flow to insure the coal mines
neatness and peoples security. Staff passageway in
accordance with work sequence and daily rule, is
arranged reasonably to increase efficiency.
Disadvantages: Some departments related to each other
are far away. The logistics are not smooth[13].
4 Optimize the layout of the coal mine
4.1 The principle of the layout
A. integrity principle, that is to consider all the
factors affecting the layout[14];
B. minimum movement principle;
C. flowability principle, that is to smooth the
production logistics and clear up the senseless
stagnation[15];
D. space fully utilized principle, that is to make
good use of the space to arrange the production and
reserve area;
E. flexibility principle, that is to take into account
all the likely layout change for the future expanding;
F. security principle[16].
8
16
15
14
2 9
12
4
7
1 5
6 4
11 10 4
4.2 The optimizing process of the coal mines layout
Analyze the coal mines logistics on the base of the
products production, reserve, transportation process and
the flow pattern of the staff and material. In SLP, the
logistics strengths decrease in order[17]and are shown by
A, E, I, O, U and X. The grade instruction is shown in
Tab.1. The logistics relationship chart is shown in Fig.3.
Tab.1 Grade instruction form
Grade Specification
relationship between the departments, we should give a
ratio to show the relative importance of the two. In coal
mines production, the logistics and non-logistics are
nearly the same significance, therefore the ratio is 1:1.
Specially, the number of A and X should be limited[19].
Then quantify the relationship, the value is shown in
tab.2, and we can figure out the comprehensive
closeness of each department. Finally according to the
closeness rank, arrange the departments position.
Tab.2 The relationship value form

Need the same staff, The grade of the

value
A Operate on the same product or work in adjacent relationship
production or maintaining line
A 5
E Provide the material or energy directly
E 3
I provide the material or energy indirectly
I 2
O Relate in operation process, but not closely
O 1
U The staff seldom appear in both places U 0
Have no function in common, or need to be separated X -2
X
for the reason of noise or environmental protection
To the coal mine, security is more important than The comprehensive closeness is shown in Tab.3,
cost and efficiency, so in layout, we need to think over and here we get the value and rank, which decide the
not only the routine production logistics, but also the departments position in the layout[20]. Through the steps
non-logistics to insure the staffs work and life[18]. The above,we can get the coal mines optimized layout with
non-logistics relationship chart is shown in fig.4. SLP, and that is shown in Fig.5.
After analyzing the logistics and non-logistics

1. derrick
2. control center
3. office building
4.material house
5. hinge garage
6. repairing workshop
7. transportation belt
8. coal warehouse
9. bath house
10. canteen
11. staff apartment
12. parking shed
13. library
14. boiler house
15. air pump house
16. pond

Fig.3 The logistics relationship chart

- 1946 -
 1. derrick
2. control center
3. office building
4.material house
5. hinge garage
6. repairing workshop
7. transportation belt
8. coal warehouse
9. bath house
10. canteen
11. staff apartment
12. parking shed
13. library
14. boiler house
15. air pump house
16. pond

Fig.4 The non-logistics relationship chart

Tab.3 The comprehensive closeness form

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1 6 3 10 5 10 10 3 8 2 -2 -2 -2 5 5 4
2 6 10 0 0 0 -1 -2 6 3 1 1 1 4 3 3
3 3 10 4 -2 -2 -2 -2 5 6 4 4 4 4 0 6
4 10 0 4 6 10 4 3 0 0 -2 0 0 0 2 2
5 5 0 -2 6 8 8 0 0 0 -2 0 -2 1 3 3
6 10 0 -2 10 8 3 2 2 4 0 2 -2 1 6 1
7 10 -1 -2 4 8 3 10 3 -1 -2 -2 -2 7 2 0
8 3 -2 -2 3 0 2 10 1 0 -2 -2 -2 3 0 1
9 8 6 5 0 0 2 3 1 8 0 4 2 10 -2 10
10 2 3 6 0 0 4 -1 0 8 10 4 1 5 -2 5
11 -2 1 4 -2 -2 0 -2 -2 0 10 3 4 5 -2 5
12 -2 1 4 0 0 2 -2 -2 4 4 3 -1 0 -2 0
13 -2 1 4 0 -2 -2 -2 -2 2 1 4 -1 0 -2 2
14 5 4 4 0 1 1 7 3 10 5 5 0 0 0 0
15 5 3 0 2 3 6 2 0 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 0 0
16 4 3 6 2 3 1 0 1 10 5 5 0 2 0 0
Comprehensive
65 35 42 39 28 45 37 13 57 45 20 9 1 45 11 42
closeness
Rank 1 10 6 8 11 3 9 13 2 3 12 15 16 3 14 6

- 1947 -
 Legend
1.derrick, 2. control center, 3. office building, 4. material
and equipment store house, 5. hinge garage, 6. repairing
workshop, 7. transportation belt, 8. coal warehouse, 9.
bath house, 10. canteen, 11. staff apartment, 12. parking
shed, 13. library, 14. boiler house, 15. air pump house,
16. pond (for life and fire protection)
Fig.5 The optimized layout
5 Conclusions
In this article, we using SLP for reference, first list
the coal mines operational departments, and evaluate the
relationship between the departments after the analysis of
the technological process, logistics and non-logistics.
After quantify the evaluation of 5 grades, we get the
comprehensive closeness of each department. Then
according to the closeness rank, arrange the departments.
At last, referring to the investigation of the on-site
fieldwork, the requirement of coal mines production,
operation and security, we obtain the final optimized
layout plan.
In this research, one of the most important point is
to get the relateness between the departments, which
should be inquired from the technician, engineer,
manager and the operator. Another important point is to
examine the on-site fieldwork and take good advantage
of it.The research gives reference to the coal mine with
limited space.
Acknowledgments
Kindly thank Yang Xi-long for providing the data to
achieve this paper.
References
[1]Z X Huang, H Luo. Study on planning and design of
production facility for bearing manufacturing industry
based on SLP. Advanced Materials Research, 2012, 542:
428-432.
[2]T S Hale, F Huq, I Hipkin. An improved facility
- 1948 -
layout construction method, International Journal of
Production Research, 2012, 50(15): 4271-4278.
[3]T Kim, H Lim, U Lee, M Cha, H Cho, K Kang.
Advanced formwork method integrated with a layout
planning model for tall building construction, Canadian
Journal of Civil Engineering, 2012, 39(11): 1173-1183.
[4]Y A Bozer, R D Meller, S J Erlebacher. An
improvement-type layout algorithm for single and
multiple-floor facilities. Management Science, 1994,
40(7): 918-932.
[5]G Zhou, M Ye, Z Cao, F Ye. A genetic algorithm
approach on a facility layout design problem with aisles.
Computational Intelligence, 2006: 1008-1013.
[6]J Zheng, Y Yang. Study on facility layout and
evaluation based on SLP and AHP. Mechanical Research
& Application, 2012, 25(4): 179-182.
[7]F Ding-zhong, Wu-Neng, F Jia-jing, J Mei-xian.
Layout design and simulation optimization of workshop
facilities based on SLP and SHA. Industrial Engineering
and Management, 2012, 17(2): 21-25.
[8]W Qiu-ping, L Ting-ting, Z Qia, W Lei-juan, B Yang.
Application of ordered sample clustering method in
systematic layout planning classification of logistics
strength. Journal of Xian University of Architecture
Technology, 2012, 44(2): 231-237.
[9]Y MAO, Z LI. The application of systematic layout
planning to the production and logistics system in a
company. Logistics Engineering and Management, 2012,
34(6): 28-30.
[10]J Wang, H Wang, J Xu. The applied research of SLP
in the layout improvement of TJD crumb rubber factory.
Value Engineering, 2012, 31(29): 142-144.
[11]L Ye, S Liu, B Bao. Research on SLP method
applied to layout optimization of diesel engine spare
parts plant of H company. Modern Management
Technology, 2012, 39(5): 24-29.
[12]W Wiyaratn, A Watanapa, Improvement plant layout
using systematic layout planning (SLP) for increased
productivity. IACSIT International Journal of
Engineering and Technology, 2013, 5(1): 76-79.
[13]S P Singh, V K Singh. An improved heuristic
approach for multi-objective facility layout problem.
International Journal of Production Research, 2010,
48(4):1171-1194.
[14]N P Humphrey. Does the built environment
influence physical activity? Trnews, 2005, 237: 32.
[15]Z Yujie, W Fang. Study on the general plane of log
yards based on systematic layout planning, information
management. Innovation Management and Industrial
Engineering, 2009 International Conference on, IEEE,
Year Published, 92-95.
[16]H Yonghong, H Sihui. Comprehensive evaluation
- 1949 -
method, 2000.
[17]X Li, G Li, F Yang, G Sun. Research and practice on
activity correlation analysis method of planning and
designing municipal solid waste transfer and treatment
station, System Science, Engineering Design and
Manufacturing Informatization (ICSEM), 3rd
International Conference on, IEEE, Year Published, 2012:
274-277.
[18]T Yang, C Su, Y Hsu. Systematic layout planning: A
study on semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities.
International Journal of Operations & Production
Management, 2000, 20(11): 1359-1371.
[19]C Cheng-pin, B Na, S Qi-fang, L Xiu-ju. The
optimal layout scheme of the shop facilities. Industrial
Engineering and Management, 2007, 12(1): 103-106.
[20]P Zhaotang, Y Gang, Z Zichuan. Process design of a
large compression-type waste transfer station.
Environmental Engineering, 2009, 27(S1): 359-362.