Design of plant layout involves decision of placement of various equipments and facilities in a manufacturing plant. The design attempts to achieve an optimum balance between several objectives which may often be conflicting with each other. The objectives to be optimized in designing a plant lay out include the following.
- Provide enough space for the various equipments, facilities and activities carried out in the plant. The facilities include the facility for storage and movement of raw material, work in progress and finished goods required or produced in the plant. The activities carried out in the plant include the manufacturing operations as well as maintenance activities.
- Facilitate smooth movement of material during manufacturing process.
- Reduce the material handling cost.
- Provide good and safe working environment for the people working in the plant.
- Reduce the total space requirement.
- Reduce the cost of facilities to be constructed or fabricated.
