Page 230 - DMGT206_PRODUCTION_AND_OPERATIONS_MANAGEMENT

Unit 11: Facility Planning and Layout

4. Simplified scheduling of materials and labour, Notes
5. Quicker set-ups and fewer tooling changes, and
6. Improved functional and visual control.
Disadvantages include the following:

 Reduced manufacturing flexibility.
 Unless the forecasting system in place is extremely accurate, it also has the potential to
increase machine downtime (since machines are dedicated to cells and may not be used all
the time).
 There is also the risk that the Cells that may become out-of-date as products and processes
change, and the disruption and cost of changing to cells can be significant.
 There is increased operator responsibility, and therefore behavioural aspects of
management become crucial.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
12. Group layout is suitable when a large variety of products are needed in …………….volumes.
13. In the Cellular Layout, the machines are grouped in a ……………… .

11.7 Application in Service Industry and Comparison of Layouts

Services establishments for instance motels, hotels, restaurants, must give due attention to
client convenience, quality of service, efficiency in delivering services and gratifying office
ambience. In today’s environment, the clients look for easiness in approaching different
departments of a service organization and therefore the layout should be designed in a fashion,
which allows clients quick and convenient access to the facilities presented by a service
establishment.
At any airport, it is common to see baggage in the arrival area being distributed using U-shaped
conveyor belts. There is a trend to move from traditional longitudinal assembly lines to
U-shaped assembly lines, especially in Cellular Layouts. Not only is it useful particularly when
there is a single worker in the line taking care of all the workstations, but it also consumes less
space. The U shape of the line cuts the walking distance of the worker by almost half.
Assembly line balances frequently result in unequal workstation times. Flexible line layouts,
such as the U-shaped line with work sharing, could help resolve the imbalance and are a common
way of dealing with this problem. The closeness of the workstations, is used by the Japanese, to
allow workers to help a fellow worker catch up, thus increasing teamwork among workers.
Plant layout is as well applicable to five star hotels as well. Here lodging, bar, restaurant,
kitchen, stores, swimming pool, laundry, shaving saloons, shopping arcades, conference hall,
parking areas etc. should all find an appropriate place in the layout. Here significance must be
given to cleanliness, elegant appearance, convenience and compact looks, which magnetize
customers.

Did u know? Plant layout is applicable to a cinema hall, where emphasis is on comfort, and
convenience of the cinemagoers. The projector, screen, sound box, fire fighting equipment,
ambience etc. should be of greatest importance.

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