2 A company that produces a wide range of specialist educational kits for 5–10 year olds is based in an industrial unit arranged in a simple layout of with six departments, each performing a separate task. The layout is shown in Figure 5.9 , together with the results of an investigation of the flow of parts and products between each department. However, the company plans to revamp its product range.

‘This new range will totally replace our existing products, and although I believe our existing layout is fine for the current product range, I think that we will need to reconfigure our layout when we make the transition to the new product range.’ (COO of the company)

The estimate for the flow between the departments when the new product range is introduced is shown in Figure 5.10 .

(a) Is the COO right in thinking that the current layout is right for the current product range?

(b) Assuming that the estimate of future interdepartmental flow is correct, how would you rearrange the factory?

Transcribed Image Text:

(a) (b) Dept. A Department A Department B Department C 22 22 Dept. B 4 24 24 24 Dept. C 11 27 12 30 7 Department Department Department Dept. D 4 32 D E F 25 24 24 Dept. E 8 20 Dept. F Figure 5.9 (a) the current layout of the educational kits producer, and (b) the current interdepartmental flow of parts and products (in pallet loads) Dept. A Dept. B Dept. C 6 2 4 34 15 5 2 5 15 28 Dept. D 40 40 32 5 2 Dept. E 3 5 Dept. F Figure 5.10 Estimated interdepartmental flow when the new product range is introduced