Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science

2001 Edition
| Editors: Saul I. Gass, Carl M. Harris

Facilities layout

  • Bharat K. Kaku
Reference work entry
First Online:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0611-X_326
How to cite
In both manufacturing and service operations, the relative location of facilities is a critical decision affecting costs and efficiency of operations. The facility layout problem (FLP) deals with the design of layouts wherein a given number of discrete entities are to be located in a given space. The definitions of entities and spaces can vary considerably, making solution techniques applicable in a wide variety of settings, as can be seen from the examples given below.

Entities

Space

Departments

Office building

Departments

Factory floor

Departments

Hospital

Interdependent plants

Geographical market

Indicators and controls

Control panel

Components

Electronic boards

Keys

Typewriter keyboard
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 2001

Authors and Affiliations

  • Bharat K. Kaku
    • 1
  1. 1.American UniversityWashingtonUSA