The layout of a manufacturing site implies the planned arrangement of equipment, workstations, and materials. It aims to simplify workflow, minimize handling, adapt to production changes, and use space optimally. Generally, the manufacturing layout depends on the product type, volume, and manufacturing process.
When planning the layout, you should focus on five key aspects: flexibility, safety, ergonomics, adaptability, and material flow. For this purpose, it's crucial to study material flow patterns, safety regulations, types of machines in the factory, and space constraints. Four layout types are common in the manufacturing sector – process, product, fixed-position, and cellular.
Process (functional) layout organizes similar equipment and operations together. You can find this layout in sites like job shops and hospitals. In product layout, you arrange machines and workstations in sequence according to the manufacturing steps. This layout is popular in automotive assembly lines, food processing facilities, and factories that manufacture electronics. The third type, fixed-position, focuses on keeping the product stationary while arranging other resources as needed. Aircraft manufacturing is a prime example of this layout category. Lastly, the cellular layout is more flexible and mixes two of the other types. It's more popular in robotics assembly that emphasizes a team-based manufacturing approach.