Chapter 1
Introduction to Manufacturing Facilities Design
And Material Handling
Objectives
In this chapter the students are introduced to the concepts and importance of facilities
planning. Objectives of facilities planning are material handling are defined. Design
procedures and type of resources are introduced.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING FACILITIES DESIGN
AND MATERIAL HANDLING
Manufacturing facilities design and material handling affect the productivity and profitability
of a company more than almost any other major corporate decision. The quality and cost of
the product and, therefore, the supply/demand ratio are directly affected by the facility design.
Manufacturing facilities design is the organization of the company’s physical
facilities to promote the efficient use of the company’s resources such as people,
equipment, material, and energy. Facilities design includes plant location and
building design, plant layout, and material handling.
Material handling is defined simply as moving material. ASME defines material
handling as the art and science involving the moving, packaging, and storing of
substances in any form.
Improvements in material handling have affected (positively) working people
more than any other area of work design and ergonomics.
Material handling is a part of nearly every step of a facility design process. The
material handling equipment choice will affect the layout.
Material handling accounts for about 50 percent of all industrial injuries and from 40
to 80 percent of all operating costs. The cost of equipment is also high, but a proper
ROI can be had.
Today, material handling systems can easily be incorporated with cutting edge
technologies in automatic data capture equipment and automatic inspection systems
for a variety of quality and productivity purposes.
Use the cost reduction formula when working with facilities design:
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