Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Process Design and Facility Layout

Question: Discuss about the Relationship between Process Design and Facility Layout. Answer: The Relationship between Process Design and Facility Layout The organization today whether in manufacturing, public or private sectors of the economy are faced with the quality and efficiency choice which is subject to survival in the competitive global economy. Thus the performance of an organization requires maximization and the cost function requires minimization which calls for operation management in the organization of production processes and service delivery processes through coordination of resources, personnel, and facility space in order to maximize output, reduce errors and maintain the quality of production. Thus the role of operations management in the overall functioning of the firm is the choice of products, choice of technology, costing and sourcing decisions which enable the running of the organization (Mahadevan, 2010, p. 4). The focus of this assignment is to explore the role of operations management in the process design and facility layout and how these are correlated in bringing the functions of operations management. Process Design and Facility Layout Operations management is important in the organization effort to increase the level of productivity and cost reduction and thus this call for the development of systems which fit the production and service sectors. Operation systems are key in designing processes which are essential for the determination of workflow and patterns and the equipment needed for production. In both production and service industries, there is need to consider the market requirements and thus efficient feedback is suitable for the development of process design. Process design is an evaluation of the internal organization and developing systems and processes which suit the activity the organization is undertaking. Failure to develop effective systems and processes, the organization is likely to experience slow productivity and service delivery and thus a threat to its survival and profitability (Friesen, 2012, p. 5). The following factors should be considered in developing a good process design in order the organization to maximize productivity and profitability. There should be a balance between the cost and efficiency of the process with regards to the production goals or service delivery objectives of an organization. Other factors to consider is the contribution of the process design to the output and quality of production. Facility layout in operations management is focused on the organization of the workspace, the processes, materials, and information in the workplace. This involves organizing the workforce or the employees, the equipment and machines for production and generally the facility. A proper facility layout encourages the free flow of work and information and thus the issue of specialization lowers the effectiveness of process design and workflow. Facility layout is dependent on the total space available and other factors such as pollution, a convenience which are likely to affect the productivity of employees. The correlation between process design and facility layout lies in the need for efficiency and increase productivity while reducing the costs in an organization (Ingram, n.d.p. 3). Facility Layout Types Facility layout takes different types given the activities involved in the particular facility. For instance, the product layout which involves the organization of materials and equipment according to the operations and processes involved in the product of a certain product. This type favors large-scale production of a single product and in turn, helps in minimizing the work process and utilize on storage. The other type of layout is the functional or process layout which is flexibility centered and thus there is no sequential arrangement of equipment. The fixed position layout is embraced in modern facilities engaging in manufacturing and it involves pooling together of resources such as manpower, equipment, machines to a common and fixed location which increase the level of convenience and economical in terms of costs and space (Kumar Suresh, 2009, p. 82). Theoretical Illustration The choice of process design and proper facility layout can be explained by the use of the critical path method which uses mapping in the creation of activities in the workplace and indicating the proper path of flow of materials, information among other requirements involved in the production process. The critical path method maps the timescales for completion of a task and the resources required for each time scale. The time scale generates the inputs, expected outputs and labor requirements for each task. This model is key in value addition and efficiency in the production processes. The goal of operations management is productivity and thus the management is responsible for the balance between output and input in the production process (Ingram, n.d.p. 3). Supply chain and operation management Operation management activities cut across all the processes and systems involved in the production process. Materials for production and the finished products are key in the performance of an organization. The establishment of right distribution paths through the critical path model helps an organization limit on the supply chain costs and value addition through service and product delivery in short time span (Toni, 2016, p. 3). Conclusion Operation management in the business today is subject to changes brought about by globalization, technological advancements and changes and thus the approach an organization uses in its operations should e able to withstand the global competition. The management should embrace changes in the process designs as well as facility layout so as to increase convenience in the workplace and enhance the workflow in terms of materials and information which is important for quality and efficiency. The nature of business today is international and thus the investment in operations management helps in coordinating the production, sourcing, and distribution of products for the end goal of profitability. References Friesen, Mike. "Process Design in Operations Management." Business 2 Community. Last modified January 12, 2012. https://www.business2community.com/strategy/process-design-in-operations-management-0115526#3Xb5AfZJEzvaieMd.97. Ingram, David. "About Process Selection Facility Layout in Operations Management | Chron.com." Small Business - Chron.com. Accessed January24,2017. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/process-selection-facility-layout-operations-management-13824.html. Kumar, S. Anil, and N. Suresh. Operations Management. New Delhi: New Age International, 2009. Mahadevan, B. Operations Management: Theory and Practice. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2010. Toni, Alberto F. De, and Alberto F. De Toni. International Operations Management: Lessons in Global Business. 2016.

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