Operations+Management+Facilities

= = = = Facilities is defined as the workspace and equipment needed to carry out the operations of the organisation. This includes offices, factories, computers and trucks. The location, design and layout of an organisations facilities are central to maximising the efficiency of the overall operations system.
 * __ OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT FACILITIES __**

//__ Facilities Location: __// The location of a business is an important consideration. A range of factors must be taken into account when planning the location such as, amount of space available, access to resources such as labour or raw materials, proximity to suppliers and customers, and access to services such as electricity or water.

__// Facilities design and layout: //__ The next stage in operations planning is to design the best physical layout for the facility. The avaliable space needs to be assessed with workstations, equipment, storage and other amenities need to be arranged. The aim is to allow for the most efficient workflow without disruption. A workplace that has carefully arranged its layout will allow for a more effictive and efficient workflow and produce its good or services to a high standard. The image on the right is the design layout for Cameron Balloons, this work layout shows an effictive and efficent worflow that occurs during the production stage. Hot air balloons requires large amounts of space during the production stage of buliding the balloon, while other stages such as design and marketing only require a small work space. Reception, Marketing, Accounts and Design are placed close together in the line of order the process takes place. Production has a large area as the hot air balloon is built, its placed near design and the final stage of purchasing. This layout allowes for a fast and efficient process to occur.

There are 3 types of workflow layouts that managers can choose from; // Process layout: // arranged in departments eg. hospitals. // Product layout: // production line eg. a car assembly plant. //Fixed-position layout:// building a large item eg. jumbo jet.