Facility Patterns:

The arrangement of facilities within department based upon the flow of material may be classified into two pattern viz. Horizontal and Vertical. The horizontal arrangement is adopted on a shop floor while vertical arrangement is adopted whereas material flows in the multi-storey building.

Horizontal Facility Pattern

 'I' Pattern

This is one of the simplest arrangements of facilities within department. In such layout each facility is arranged in a straight line. In such arrangement, material is fed at one end and component leaves the line at other end. This type of layout is economical in space and conventional in 'I' shaped buildings, for example for example automobile industries.

 'L' Pattern

This type of arrangement is utilized where 'I' pattern may not be made because of the shortage of available space.

 'U' Pattern

In such type of arrangement the departments for attaining and dispatching of goods are located at one end. This type of layout is well suited for manufacturing electric motors and other electric appliances.

 'S' Pattern

This type of layout is adopted for the better arrangement of obtainable space. If the production of goods requires large number of machines, then this pattern is much economical.

 'O' Pattern

This type of arrangement is adopted, where procedure or operations are performed in a circular manner that means while the entry of the input material and the exit of the final product are done from the same place. Generally, we may say that after receiving the order, when the job reaches at the same place the complete set of operation have been performed. This type of arrangement is adopted for the formation of electric bulbs and music cassettes etc. The aforementioned five basic arrangements of facilities within a department are used in industries in various combinations.

Vertical Facility Pattern

Vertical facility systems are used in firms which are given as follows :

a) Centralized and decentralized arrangement.

b) Single storey and multi storey arrangement.

c) Arrangement among buildings.