Question

If you are about to start a Power Plant construction which type of layout would you apply in your production. Justify your opinion.

Answer 1

Layouts in production are designed before the construction of an organization. There are five types of layouts:

1) Process layout

2) Product layout

3) Combination layout

4) Fixed layout

5) Group layout

In process layout, the organization will be designed in such a way that a similar process units are at the same place. But for a power plant, a sequence of processes are to be followed. Therefore process layout is not possible for a power plant.

In product layout, the design will be such that a sequence of processes are followed. A final product will be obtained. For power plant construction, this can be adapted.

In Combination layout, both process and product layouts are followed. Process layouts are arranged in a sequence.

Fixed layout is in which all the relevant machinery will be arranged and from there itself the production starts and ends as well.

In a power plant, various departments must be incorporated and each department has its own processes. For example coal department has crushers, stock and pile. For this particular department, process layout must be designed. And this coal department must be arranged in a sequence with other departments to obtain the final product, which is electricity. So for a power plant, combination layout is perfect rather than product layout.