Operations Management: An Integrated Approach, 5th Edition

Problems

1. Fresh Foods Grocery is considering redoing its facility layout. The from–to matrix showing daily customer trips between departments is shown in Table 10-10, and their current layout is shown in Figure 10-12. Fresh Foods is considering exchanging the locations of the dry groceries department (A) and the health and beauty aids department (F). Compute the ld score for Fresh Foods' current and proposed layouts. Which is better?

TABLE 10-10 From–To Matrix for Fresh Foods

FIGURE 10-12 Current layout for Fresh Foods

2. Use trial and error to find a better layout for Fresh Foods Grocery in Problem 1. Compute the ld score and compare it to the ld scores computed for Fresh Foods’ current and proposed layouts. Which is best?

3. Mason Machine Tools is reevaluating its facility layout. The current layout is shown in Figure 10-13 and the from–to matrix is in Table 10-11. Mason has to leave department C in its current location because relocation costs are too high. It is considering exchanging departments B and D. Evaluate the proposal by computing the ld score for both layouts.

FIGURE 10-13 Current layout for Mason Machine Tools

TABLE 10-11 From–To Matrix for Mason Machine Tools