Facilities Layout

Facilities layout is the overall management of machines, personnel, materials handling, service facilities, and access required to facilitate efficient operation of the production system.

A number of specific objectives of good facilities layout are listed below:

1.    Minimizing materials handling and plant transportation requirements. This minimizes the costs and time to move materials through the production process.
2.    Maximize the return on the fixed investment in facilities by minimizing the amount of floor space required. That is eliminating floor congestion and production bottlenecks.
3.    Utilizing labour efficiently and effectively by minimizing the distance and time to obtain materials, tools, and suppliers and facilitating production supervision.
4.    Preventing the hazards affecting employees and products, that is, making the job safer.
5.    Providing for a smooth, logical flow of customers through the process where applicable.
6.    Providing for flexibility for expansion caused by growth, new products and new processes.

The net effect should be to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve employee and customer satisfaction.
Regardless of how effective the original layout is, changes are inevitable. Changes in demand, new product development, and changes made to reduce costs may prompt a new layout.