Facility Layout: Identify one of the four types of layouts and discuss its characteristics.
Provide an example of a local business or business that uses a process, product, or fixed-position layout (Examples of local businesses are department stores, grocery stores, and cafeterias.) Is your layout selected in the question above a poor layout? Provide a better solution for the poor layout problem.
Process layout- in this type of layout, the facility is built in a manner that operations are grouped based on product functions or the type. Business shops that require customized operations use process layout as it helps determine different processing requirements of operations.
Characteristics of process layout
- Resources that are used are general in purpose and flexible.
- Resource scheduling and workflows are complex.
- Facilities are capital less intensive and more labor-intensive.
- Low fixed costs and high variable costs
- Less automation as the product design varies.
Example
A clothing store like the Reliance trends is an example of the process layout. This is because the store is custom-built for men’s women and kid’s outfits. Each floor is customized, with each category having different expertise. The clothes in each section are arranged according to the size and clothes model, with each category has specified sales representatives appointed to the locations. During visitations and shopping, customers can identify a particular section of a specific item.