Chapter Three Om
Chapter Three Om
Chapter Three Om
Basic Types of Layout of Manufacturing Industry: The common Basic Layout Types are
Product/Service layout - A layout that uses standardized processing operations to achieve
smooth, rapid, high-volume flow
Process layout - A Layout that can handle varied processing requirements
Fixed Position layout - A Layout in which the product or project remains stationary, and
workers, materials and equipment are moved as needed
Hybrid/Combination - A Layout that makes use of the combination of Product, Process or
Fixed
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A. Product/Production Line/assembly line/flow-shop layouts
The equipment here is laid out according to the sequence in which it is used for
making the product. This layout is usually suitable for assembling operations, for
example in the automobile industry. Since a machine is assigned for each operation,
the number of equipments in a Product layout is much more as compared to the
Process layout.
Therefore; the utilization of the equipment has to be sufficiently high to justify the
higher level of capital investment necessary in a Product layout. This means, the
volume of production should be large and the variety of products should be low so
that there is very little time lost in setting up the machinery.
However, if two types of products are to be made, it may call for two separate
layouts. Doing multiple jobs on the same equipment with the same men to save time is
usually not the characteristic of a Product layout. Each Line layout caters only to one
product.
The principles of minimum distance moved (each operation adjacent to the previous
operation) and of congruence flow of materials and sequence of equipments are very
well satisfied in a Line layout.
But, this can only be true when there is only one standard product to be made, day in
and day out. If there is another type of product to be made, then the present line-up of
equipment may not correspond with the 'flow' of this new product, resulting in high
costsJune
due to excessive material movement
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and (MBA)
By: Teferi Mengesha excessive idle-times of machinery
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and
June 26, 2024 By: Teferi Mengesha (MBA) 44
B. Process/job-shop/ Layout or Layout by Function
This is typical of the job-shop type of production where the equipment performing
similar operations is grouped together. For instance, grinding machines could be
grouped together to form a work area, milling machines could be grouped together;
drilling machines could be grouped together, etc.
Such a layout is particularly useful where the volume of manufacture is low and the
variety of jobs is great (in a job-shop every customer order is unique). Here, the layout
should provide tremendous flexibility in the sequence of operations because, the
sequence of operation for one job different from that of another job. For this reason, in
all job-shop types of production, work areas are grouped together.
Why is a process layout suited to job-shop type production? Job-shop type
production is characterized by a large variety of jobs, which are distinct from each
other. If the machines performing similar operations are grouped together, the idle
times of machines and operators can be better controlled and better time-shared thereby
increasing machine and labor utilization.