Answer: What is Plant Layout……………………?
Plant layout refers to the arrangement of physical facilities such as machinery, equipment, furniture etc. within the factory building in such a manner so as to have quickest flow of material at the lowest cost and with the least amount of handling in processing the product from the receipt of material to the shipment of the finished product.
According to Riggs, “the overall objective of plant layout is to design a physical arrangement that most economically meets the required output – quantity and quality.”
According to J. L. Zundi, “Plant layout ideally involves allocation of space and arrangement of equipment in such a manner that overall operating costs are minimized.
The efficiency of production depends on how well the various machines; production facilities and employee’s amenities are located in a plant. Only the properly laid out plant can ensure the smooth and rapid movement of material, from the raw material stage to the end product stage. Plant layout encompasses new layout as well as improvement in the existing layout.
It may be defined as a technique of locating machines, processes and plant services within the factory so as to achieve the right quantity and quality of output at the lowest possible cost of manufacturing. It involves a judicious arrangement of production facilities so that workflow is direct.
Principles regarding the plant layout
A scientific criterion for determining a good Plant Layout:
1. Integration:
Integration of men, money, materials and machines and support services in order to get the optimum output of resources.
2. Cubic space utilization:
Utilization of both horizontal and vertical spaces and height is very important to use the space as much as possible.
3. Minimum distance:
Minimum travel of men and material should be implemented means; the total distance travel by the men and