what is plant layout? what are the characteristics and different types of plant layout?
Answers
Plant layout is a business structure in which location of work centres and various service centres like inspection, storage, and shipping is located within the factory building.
Characteristics: The characteristics of a plant layout are;
(i) Flow of production is smooth.
(ii) The available space is utilized to the maximum capacity.
(iii) Movement of labour and machinery is easy.
(iv) It has minimum handling.
(v) Smaller enterprise.
(vi) Better working conditions.
(vii) Flexible activities.
(viii) Supervision and control is easy.
(ix) Integration in labour.
Types: The types of plant layout are the following;
(i) Product layouts.
(ii) Process layouts.
(iii) Fixed position layouts.
Plant layout is the physical arrangement of production equipment, administration equipment, utility equipment, storage equipment, transportation equipment, raw material, labour and service facilities used in a factory to produce and ship a salable item. A good infrastructure permits the product to be produced with minimum unit cost in the shortest time span.