Factory Layout and Material Handling Project

This chapter presents a factory design project that will serve as a unifying concept for the organization of the book and as a connector of the topics typically covered in a course on facilities planning and material handling. Students work in teams of three or four individuals. The Factory Layout and Material Handling Project is divided into six sections: Section I Product Design, Section II Process Design, Section III Layout Planning and Material Handling, Section IV Personnel Requirements and Calculation of Product’s Total Unit Cost, Section V Office Layout, and Section VI Final Plant Layout. The factory design project has been extensively tested at Texas A&M University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. It is developed within a conceptual approach that emphasizes the use of information-based manufacturing strategies. All software, documentation forms, checklists, and other resources to facilitate the development of this project are available at a website designed for the textbook.