Production Lay-outs

Product layout or assembly limn is knowing to conduct crops that atomic number 18 manufactured using specialized machines in an assembly line (Product lay-out). Each line is numbered to address special(prenominal) requirements of a intersection locate line in a sequential manner. on that point is a smooth flow of production (i.e. conveyor-supported) from one specialized machine to an new(prenominal) which is desirable in mass production where demand is predictable while volumes atomic number 18 high. This type of layout, therefore, is fitted in producing consumer products for a command market rather than producing for several segments of the market.The advantages of the product layout are its order and efficient processes that burn lead to prompt customer response and less demand on lead times. It also promotes cheap labor because scientific discipline requirements are low that causes relaxation of high salaries. Although this layout is efficient and easy to use, it is highly inflexible because a assortment in one assembly line can lead bottleneck in its production. Further, in product development, acquiring a whole new set of machines and working area is necessary to address specific requirements of the product. When demand is low, the assets can be underutilized.As it produces ships and airplanes, fixed position layout is a technique utilise to vulnerable, hard-to-move and specialized products (Layout and Flow). Factors of production (e.g. labor, machine, equipments and tools) are required to meet in a single production location to handle manufacturing tasks there. It is customary to leave machines in the website when not used to bar breakage or damaged in addition to the costly transportation required for pull-out and getting back to the site.Further, to minimize the high ceiling in acquiring new machines, roughly companies are using contractual leases because their use of the machines is under exceptional time frame. Its advantages a re reduced movement of machines that aids in minimizing risk of damage or woolly-headed and continuity of processes because the need for re-planning is reduced as people meet in one place. However, some of its disadvantages implicate are higher salaries as workers must agree specific skills to finish the project, movement of people/ machines to site can be in truth costly and idle machines can have low utilization because they detain idle rather use for productive means when the production is at cease.Unlike fixed position, available or process layout distinguish the work group into different departments that give rise to different and lucid workstation (Facility layout). As production is intermittent and batched, functional layout is compatible in serving different market segments that have highly differentiated needs. Compared to product layout, volumes are deemably low while the demand can waffle considerably from one period to another. There is specialization in function al layout such as interval of men, women and childrens clothes in a department store.Machines in this layout are for general use while workers are knowledgeable on how to operate machines within their station. The advantage of this layout is opposite the disadvantage of product layout (i.e. flexibility) while the vice versa is also true (i.e. functional layout is inefficient). Disadvantages such as backtracking, bottlenecks and delays are common. Further, the storage rooms for raw materials are huge while inventories of the finished products are low because they are immediately delivered to customers. The critical issue to consider in this layout is to find the race of each station to machine centers to establish a more space-efficient design between them.To address the issue to space-efficiency between send and machine centers, cellular layout is idealized to combine the advantages of product and functional layouts (i.e. efficiency and flexibility). Cells represent a workstatio n that produces similar customer requirements. A machine that cannot be allocated in space is strategically located between cells that require machine processing to create a point of use. The usual design is that the assembly line is observed in producing components and parts while process layout take-over the relationship of each component-producing cell.With the use of information systems, locating cells and identifying idle machines can be easily carried out. Resulting to substantial paperwork to concord the cellular layout, workers can also operate machines within their departments like functional layout. Its advantages are reduction in material handing and transit time, minimal set-up time, minimized work-in-progress, efficient use of human capital, control and automation. On the other hand, it can have backlash such as absence of sufficient number of part stations to create cells, imbalanced cells, more training and strict allocation of workers and increased capital expenditu re.Justification of the most appropriate layoutAlthough challenging to establish, the current environment and production needs of Manychip should use cellular layout. First, its plant and gross sales channels are located in developed economies where prime(a) and expensive human resources are dwelling. Second, it operates in a highly volatile demand that can be easily affected by environmental changes that flexibility is required to prevent cost associated with over-forecasting. Third, it is carrying only six main memory chip products which potential have significant similarities in design and internal parts. This will enable creation of cells because the number of stations is sufficient.Fourth, its operations in asset-intensive while its depreciation can significantly affect its profitability. When cellular layout is adopted, assembly lines can efficiently produce component parts for the six product lines which will prevent idle machines. On the other hand, functional layout are f lexible that can be applied when orders are placed and products are ready for final assembly. Fifth, the production of Manychip requires high lead times which can be minimized when applied with cellular manufacturing as components are ready to undergo assembly once order is in place.On having greater agility, Manychip will not loose quality systems because specific stations are under stand-by flair that can be called if random quality test is necessary. With the consideration of the three conditions, approval of cellular layout is very necessary. Different components can create cells, the administrative group can act like a quality group in which case a station can be brought up for them near their individual process interests and shipment in different geographical location can be addressed by timely delivery of products. However, Manychip must consider that substantial funding is required to establish a hybridizing strategy such as cellular manufacturing. It must also monitor it s product development programs to prevent dissolution of important cells.ReferencesProduct lay-out (unknown). UWM. Available Accessed on 6 August 2007Facility layout (unknown). SNC. Available from http//www.snc.edu/socsci/ conduct/333/bricks/Layout.html Accessed on 6 August 2007Layout and Flow (1997). Pearsoned. Available Accessed on 6 August 2007