PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT - PLANT LOCATION AND LAYOUT

For: Comments, Questions and answers email: theotherwomaninmarriage@gmail.com

also, read the book "The Other Woman In Marriage" at www.okadabooks.com  

DEFINITION:

Plant layout, is the positioning arrangement of plant and machinery in such a way that will give room for smooth and easy flow of production process.

Plant location is the process of situating a plant or equipment for the purpose of producing a particular product.

FACTORS THAT AFFECTS PLANT LOCATION OR THE DECISION OF PLANT LOCATION

i.                    Proximity to sources of raw materials

ii.                  Proximity to market

iii.                Access road or network

iv.                 Cost of labour

v.                   Taxes, licenses, regulations

vi.                 Competition – who are your competitors?

vii.               Community attitude etc.

TYPES OF PLANT LAYOUT

There are two types of plant layout;

1.      PROCESS LAYOUT – this is a situation where machines are arranged in such a way all equipment that will perform similar task will be arranged together.

2.      Product Layout – Machines for a particular product are arranged in the same place. E.g. the one for magi (one place), the one for milk (one place) the one for Millo one place etc..

CRITERIA FOR PLANT LAYOUT

(a)   A good Plant Layout must provide advantageous and economical work flow

(b)   Utilize all available space effectively

(c)    It must be flexible

(d)   Reduce delay and work stoppage  

VARIOUS CONCEPTS OF PLANT LAYOUT

(i)                 CONCEPT OF SHORTEST TRAVEL DISTANCE – it is a concept that stipulates that plant must be arranged in such a way that people will be able to move from one place to another.  There must be room for people to move freely.

(ii)               CONCEPT OF THREE DIMENSIONAL SPACES – this concept gives 3 dimensional spaces.  The equipment and machinery are to be arranged vertically and horizontally.

(iii)             CONCEPT OF ONE WAY FLOW – the machines and equipment are arranged in such a way that each space will cater for the flow of each.

(iv)              CONCEPT OF SATISFACTION AND SAFETY – this is when equipment and machines are arranged anyhow but the owners are satisfied with the arrangement and it put safety into consideration.

(v)                CONCEPT OF TOTAL INTEGRATED – this is the arrangement of your plant and equipment in such a way that all the 5Ps are integrated into one.