Question

Which type of layout do you suggest for this ship manufacturing facility? What are the various constraints that they’ll have to keep in mind while designing the facility?

Answer 1

The meaning of layout is to rearrange various things during a planned manner. Within the context of the facility, especially with regard to a producing entrepreneur, it relates to the set-up of various types of machinery, equipment, and other facilities accompanying the core manufacturing activity, department for receiving, department for dispatching, tool rooms, maintenance department, department taking care of the work concerning employees welfare, etc. the aim of getting such plant layout in situ is to make sure a prompt, hassle-free and uninterrupted process of production at rock bottom possible cost. Facility layout are categorized into;

1. Product Layout
2. Process Layout
3. Fixed Position Layout
4. Cellular Manufacturing Layout
5. Hybrid or Combined

In ship manufacturing industry I suggest an appropriate layout is :

Fixed Position Layout:

Under the fixed position layout, manufacturing the foremost important products stable or fixed in one place. That location is the focus of all the activities; all the machinery, equipment, tools, components, labor, etc. are bought thereto site.

Such an appointment is the logical insight into the very fact that between the choice of moving the key product of enormous size and moving the lads and machine to the location of production, the latter is convenient.

This kind of layout is most suited to the manufacturers of heavy engineering goods like ships, generators, wagons, aircraft, etc. For a little scale industry, it's not considered appropriate. Fixed-position layout in respect of shipbuilding industry has been depicted within the following figure;

While designing the facility, there are some constraints that they're going to need to confine the mind. That are:

1. Huge funds are invested and therefore, the process of production is prolonged
2. Cost related to equipment handling is at a better level
3. A lot of spaces is required for the storage of varied equipment and material at the manufacturing site of the key product
4. Utilization level of men and machinery are quite at a lower level
5. As this sort of layout provides the scope of completing various operations concurrently by a variety of departments, chances of confusion and inconsistencies amongst various groups can't be ruled out.