Fit for future26 August 2017

Effective and well-planned factory design and layout can impact operational efficiency, as Mark Venables explains.

One of the most famous buildings in the New York skyline, The Empire State Building, underwent a $550m environmental upgrade in 2011. Improving insulation, implementing energy-saving technologies and refurbishing 6,500 windows cut the building’s annual energy usage by a substantial $4.4m. When renovating or designing any facility, efficiency can be improved by careful design and planning.

The design and layout of a facility has a powerful impact on manufacturing operations. An efficient layout can facilitate an increased flow of work, information and material around the site. If a factory is not designed with efficiency in mind, it can limit production, slow processes and impact overall profitability.

Design considerations
When designing or renovating a production facility, space, production, safety and convenience are all of the utmost importance. “For most plant managers, it is imperative that the factory design allows for the facility to have efficient production and storage capabilities to maximise productivity,” Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director at obsolete equipment supplier EU Automation, explains. “There are a number of ways that a facility can be designed to achieve this goal.”

Software tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), a 3D modelling software for building design, can be used to understand how the design or construction of a facility will impact how it operates and minimise design errors. It can also be used to analyse how complex variables work together, including water, airflow and ventilation.

“The building as a whole can be optimised during the design stage, but the production line should also be optimised for efficiency,” Wilkins continues. “In an efficient production line, there is a smooth process flow from raw material to finished product, to avoid paperwork or parts being misplaced.

“This can be done using design and planning software applications such as AutoCAD, which allows the designer to view and analyse a digital factory model.”

When planning movement around a factory it is important to optimise the space so that it fits production needs, whilst making the best use of the available area. This can be achieved by reorganising the warehouse or even by constructing a mezzanine floor above the production facility. Though it is important to consider the best layout of machines and equipment, in factories where humans work alongside robots, the space should be designed with people in mind.

“Improving the working environment for staff can increase productivity,” Wilkins says. “A facility that is light, well ventilated and temperature regulated will encourage worker productivity and increase staff satisfaction.
“Once the facility is up and running, the plant manager can take advantage of smart factory technology, using real-time information to make intelligent decisions.”

From concept to construction to operation, steps can be taken to make a production line more efficient, productive and cost-effective. If a facility is designed with efficiency in mind, the manufacturer can stay ahead of its competition for the long term, cementing its place in the marketplace, just as the Empire State Building has in the New York skyline.

Adam Offord

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