Plant Layout

Designing or redesigning the layout of your manufacturing plant is a major undertaking which requires time and considerable preparation. There are three approaches you can use when designing or redesigning your plant layout:

• Hire a plant or production manager to develop a plant layout plan
• Hire an outside production or efficiency expert to develop the plan
• Develop the plan yourself

The more complicated the production process, the more you should rely on outside experts to help you. If you decide to develop the plan yourself, visit other production plants to observe what works and what doesn't work in their plant design. Make sure you get critical feedback on your plan before you implement it. It is far easier to change a poor plan than it is to change a poor production process once it is up and running, and the machines are bolted to the floor.

Whether starting or expanding your plant, you must know your present and future space requirements. When planning your layout, make sure you consider the following:

1. Which elements of the layout (such as heavy equipment) will be the most expensive to change?
2. Does the location of the heavy equipment limit the direction of expansion, and is there room for the expansion of each element of production?
3. Are the locations of the basic raw material input areas and product output areas functional and convenient, and is the overall flow of the raw materials fast and efficient?