Most microenterprises continually suffer from setbacks that result from poor physical distribution of the plant. The following are some criteria, advantages and practical systems for you to organize your company
Advantages of having a good distribution
- Decrease in the distances to be traveled by materials, tools and workers. Adequate circulation for personnel, mobile equipment, materials and products under development, etc. Effective use of available space as needed. Safety of personnel and reduction of accidents. sites for inspection, which improve product quality. Decreased manufacturing time. Improved working conditions. Increased productivity and decreased costs.
Criteria for plant distribution
1. Functionality: That things stay where they can work effectively.
2. Economic: Savings in distances traveled and full use of space.
3. Flow: Allow processes to run smoothly and continuously.
4. Comfort: Create enough spaces for the well-being of workers and the transfer of materials.
5. Lighting: Do not neglect this element depending on the specific task.
6. Aeration: In processes that demand an air stream, since they compromise the use of gases or high temperatures, etc.
7. Free accesses: Allow traffic without obstacles.
8. Flexibility: Plan future changes in production that require a new ordering of the plant.
Distribution methods of a plant
There are really many methods, however for practicality we will classify them into quantitative methods and qualitative methods.
- Quantitative Methods: These consider the measurement of processes and distances, that is, they minimize the cost of transportation from one process to another. Qualitative Methods: These seek to give importance to the subjective tastes or wishes that a department remains near or far from another. In other words, in this type of ordering, the prevailing criteria are comfort or access to customer service.
Distribution Types
Since we have defined the advantages, the criteria and the distribution methods, let us go on to specify the model with the types of distribution.
These refer to the practice itself of how to order a work floor.
1. Distribution By Fixed Position Or By Static Product: In this case, the most obvious thing is that the product we are going to manufacture cannot be moved, either due to its size or simply because it must be done in that place. An example of this are the water collection tanks that cities build.
This type of work generally requires that the raw material is also transported to that place or that if it is a question of assembling the product, the parts travel from the factory to the final point, with which you must take into account those costs and the best strategy to decrease them. For example, you can hire a nearby warehouse to do the last processes before taking them to the assembly.
2. Distribution By Process: The machines and services are grouped according to the characteristics of each one, that is, if you organize your production by process, you must clearly differentiate the steps to which you submit your raw material to leave the finished product.
First when he selects it, second when he cuts it, third where he polishes it and fourth where he paints it. Realize that there you can clearly differentiate how many steps and / or processes your operation has. Likewise, there should be work stations for each one.
3. Distribution By Product: This is the so-called chain or series production line. In it, accessories, machines, auxiliary services, etc. They are continuously located in such a way that the processes are a consequence of the immediately previous one.
The assembly line of a car is a clear example of this, however in clothing or grocery companies it is also highly applied and is often the optimal order for operation.
We have talked a lot about the flow of goods, the operators of customers, etc. So let's look at the flow systems.
Flow Systems
These deal with circulation depending on the physical form of the premises, plant or workshop that is available.
a) Online Flow
b) Flow In ELE:
c) U Flow:
d) Flow In S:
All these efforts are in vain if the general problems are not corrected. Beyond the distribution techniques you must know how to maintain an order. The best way to apply these concepts and mold them to your needs is to keep in mind that "There must be a place for everything and that everything be in its place."
