PROCESS LAYOUTS, WHI CH ARE ALSO

KNOWN AS FUNCTI ONAL LAYOUTS OR JOB-

SHOP LAYOUTS, I NVOLVE GROUPI NG OF ALL
SI MI LAR EQUI PMENT OR FUNCTI ONS ( ALL
LATHE MACHI NES I N ONE AREA, ALL
DRI LLI NG MACHI NES I N ANOTHER AREA,
AND ALL ASSEMBLI NG WORKS I N SOME
OTHER AREA) . THEY ARE DESI GNED TO
ACCOMMODATE VARI ETY I N PRODUCT
DESI GNI NG AND PROCESSI NG .



Types of layout
Process layouts mostly use general purpose
machines that can be changed over rapidly to new
operations for different product designs.
The workers in process layouts must be highly
skilled.
They also require intensive job instructions and
technical supervision.
Advantages of Process Layout
Greater Flexibility in production
Better and more efficient supervision is possible
through specialization
Breakdown of equipment can easily be handled by
transferring work to another machine
The capacity of different production lines can be
expanded easily
Better utilization of men and machines is possible
through this lay out.
Disadvantage
Production requires more times as work-in-progress
has to travel from one place to another in search of
machines
This type of layout requires more floor space and
there might be difficulties in production
There will be a accumulation of work at different
production units.
Product Layout
Product layouts also called Flow-Shop layouts or straight
line layouts, Involve arrangement of equipment or
machines according to the progressive steps by which a
product is made. Raw materials are moved into the first
machine and finished products come from the last
machine.
These layouts are designed to accommodate only a few,
mostly one or two, standardized products and process
designs. These types of layouts are preferred in the plants
that manufacture standardized products on a mass scale
of such as Chemical, paper, rubber and cement
industries.
Advantage
Mechanization of materials is possible and material
handling costs can be reduced considerably
This layout requires less floor area per unit of
production
This layout facilitates better production control and
production bottlenecks can be avoided

Disadvantages
Expansion of the production line is difficult
There is difficulty in supervising
Break down of equipment may disrupt the entire
production system
Grouping Technology Layout
In a grouping technology layout (also called cellular
manufacturing layout), dissimilar machines are
grouped into cells, and each cell functions like a
product layout within a larger job shop or process
layout. Each cell in this layout is formed to produce a
single part family a few parts with common
characteristics that usually require the same
machines and similar machine settings.
Advantage
These layouts help simplify machine changeovers,
reduce materials handling cost, quicker
manufacturing and shipping quickly, reduce the in-
process inventory required, and automate the
production easily

Disadvantage:
This layout reduce manufacturing flexibility
Fixed Position Layout
A Fixed position involves movement of all machines and
men to the product that remains stationary . In this
layout, a major component of the product is fixed in a
particular location and all the requirements are brought
to the location. This type of layout is used when the
product is bulky, large, heavy or fragile.
This type is followed in constructions firms where the
product will be in a fixed position and all workers,
materials machines and sub contractors re brought to the
construction location Examples: Ship construction,
aircraft assembly, rocket assembly etc.