ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how to make an overall assessment of a manufacturing employees' plant layout and turn it into a more productive visual factory. Conventional manufacturing wisdom was called into question. Products with different configurations are being assembled and are flowing freely from one value-added operation to the next, with no more travel distance than necessary, and the “all-systems-go” operational status is indicated by a green andon indicator light. All finished goods are moving into the packaging area and are wrapped, labeled, and loaded for shipment without stopping. Various floor marking symbols can be used to indicate aisles, work zones, work flow, electrical panels, parts bin locations, staging areas, and safety zones and to emphasize environmental issues. Andon lights, signage, and placards are often placed at higher levels. When designing a factory layout, start with the smallest amount of floor space required to accommodate the minimum sequential steps of the production value-adding steps.
