Facility Layout
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing 25 (2009) 191–203 www.elsevier.com/locate/rcim Towards measuring the effectiveness of a facilities layout
Dhamodharan RamanÃ, Sev V. Nagalingam, Grier C.I. Lin
Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Research, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Received 29 January 2007; received in revised form 18 May 2007; accepted 13 June 2007
Abstract
Performance measurement models are essential to support various decision making problems that may arise during life cycle of a facilities layout. Available models are only suitable for early stages in the design phase of life cycle. However, measurement models have a great consequence in other phases also such as production planning, control and when modification to be incorporated due to the changes in market demand, which happens very often in today’s global competition. In addition, the existing models have considered only material handling cost as the performance measurement factor. Nevertheless, the empty travel of material handling equipment, layout flexibility and area utilisation have a significant contribution towards the layout effectiveness. It is therefore necessary to have a measurement model to determine the facilities layout’s effectiveness by considering all significant factors. A measurement model considering a set of three layout effectiveness factors—facilities layout flexibility (FLF), productive area utilisation (PAU) and closeness gap (CG)—is developed in our research. The proposed model will enable the decision-maker of a manufacturing enterprise to analyse a layout in three different aspects, based on which they can make decision towards productivity improvement. This paper mainly discusses about the measurement of the CG. The CG is developed with respect to the objective of bringing closer the highly interactive facilities/ departments. The CG presented in this paper extends
Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing 25 (2009) 191–203 www.elsevier.com/locate/rcim Towards measuring the effectiveness of a facilities layout
Dhamodharan RamanÃ, Sev V. Nagalingam, Grier C.I. Lin
Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Research, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Received 29 January 2007; received in revised form 18 May 2007; accepted 13 June 2007
Abstract
Performance measurement models are essential to support various decision making problems that may arise during life cycle of a facilities layout. Available models are only suitable for early stages in the design phase of life cycle. However, measurement models have a great consequence in other phases also such as production planning, control and when modification to be incorporated due to the changes in market demand, which happens very often in today’s global competition. In addition, the existing models have considered only material handling cost as the performance measurement factor. Nevertheless, the empty travel of material handling equipment, layout flexibility and area utilisation have a significant contribution towards the layout effectiveness. It is therefore necessary to have a measurement model to determine the facilities layout’s effectiveness by considering all significant factors. A measurement model considering a set of three layout effectiveness factors—facilities layout flexibility (FLF), productive area utilisation (PAU) and closeness gap (CG)—is developed in our research. The proposed model will enable the decision-maker of a manufacturing enterprise to analyse a layout in three different aspects, based on which they can make decision towards productivity improvement. This paper mainly discusses about the measurement of the CG. The CG is developed with respect to the objective of bringing closer the highly interactive facilities/ departments. The CG presented in this paper extends
References: international conference on production research, 1987.