Plant Layout Manual

It’s been said that planning the layout for a new or remodeled facility contains elements of both art and science. The artists’ dependence on creativity, combined with the architects’ use of deduction is the essence of practical and functional layout planning. Communicating in this world of art and science demands our attention to fact-finding, probing, and the best methods of distributing information. Over half of all American workers are involved in the generation, collection, processing, and distribution of information. The way operations are arranged affects efficiency, safety and worker morale. Communicating a process of flow is the challenge for planning a workable and effective layout.  The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association is proud to present this layout reference guide which exhibits a diversity of actual plant layouts within many printing and imaging specialty areas. Some of these areas include, close tolerance, decal, outdoor advertising, point-of-purchase, textile, heat-applied graphics, pad printing and general job shop situations.  Ergonomic issues, digital layout considerations, clean room setup and a few more areas are new for this latest revision for plant layout considerations. Greater insight into lighting and illuminance requirements, noise pollution and ventilation provide the reader with the latest design considerations.  A valuable exercise in creating the processes of production flow is analyzed as are departmental interrelationships, sub-component considerations, and many physical activities that will potentially alleviate needless waste of time and energy consumption. Safety has also been accented in this revised handbook, dealing with those considerations in initial layout that spell out many areas of responsible activity for employers with employee safety in mind. Area requirements from 5,000 square feet to more than 100,000 square feet are presented in both graphic and descriptive terms. Historical growth, flow of goods, equipment placement, square footage, and many more issues are exposed to provide insight into the decision making process. Energy usage requirements are given so that the reader can compare such costs by region and type of operation. It is the intention of this resource to provide an effective, workable tool for increasing the level of communications and encouraging interdepartmental participation for those who have never been involved in planning a layout, as well as those seeking more state-of-the-art processes.