Operations Management: An Integrated Approach, 5th Edition

WHAT IS LAYOUT PLANNING?

Layout planning is deciding on the best physical arrangement of all resources that consume space within a facility. These resources might include a desk, a work center, a cabinet, a person, an entire office, or even a department. Decisions about the arrangement of resources in a business are not made only when a new facility is being designed; they are made any time there is a change in the arrangement of resources, such as a new worker being added, a machine being moved, or a change in procedure being implemented. Also, layout planning is performed any time there is an expansion in the facility or a space reduction.

Layout planning

Deciding on the best physical arrangement of all resources that consume space within a facility.

The arrangement of resources in a facility can significantly affect the productivity of a business. As you saw in the opening examples, a lot of wasted time, energy, and confusion can result from a poor layout. There are also other reasons layout planning is important. In many work environments, such as office settings, face-to-face interaction between workers is important. Proper layout planning can be critical in building good working relationships, increasing the flow of information, and improving communication. Similarly, in retail ...