Overview

This assignment builds upon the layouts developed during Lab Test $2$ and Lab Test $3.$ Students are required to submit a comprehensive report documenting their initial layout $($Lab Test $2)$ and their optimized layout $($Lab Test $3).$ The focus of this report is to analyse the initial layout and improvements made, demonstrating your understanding of facility layout design principles.

This assignment will test students$$ ability to systematically plan and design facilities layout to improve operational efficiency, in line with Graduate Attribute $3-$ Engineering Design.

Submission Requirements

The report should follow this structure:

$1.$ Introduction and Overview $(10$ Marks$)$

Provide a brief overview of the project. Describe the purpose of the initial and optimized layouts and explain the key considerations that guided your design choices. Clearly define the scope of the work.

$2.$ Flow Analysis $(30$ Marks$)$

Use the data from Lab Test $2$ to map out the human, material, and equipment flow across departments in your facility. Provide an analysis of the flow efficiency in your initial layout and explain how these aspects have been improved in your optimized layout from Lab Test $3.$

$$ Identify any inefficiencies in the initial layout.

$$ Highlight improvements made in the optimized layout and their impact on operational efficiency.

$3.$ Activity Relationship Analysis $(20$ Marks$)$

Discuss the activity relationships between departments. Explain how your optimized layout addresses the inefficiencies identified in the initial layout. Ensure that you:

$$ Clearly explain the reasoning behind any changes in department placement.

$$ Use activity relationship codes to justify the placement of departments in the optimized layout.j

$$

$4.$ Layout Comparison $(15$ Marks$)$

Present both the initial layout $($from Lab Test $2)$ and the optimized layout $($from Lab Test $3).$ Include the following:

$$ Screenshots of both layouts placed side by side for comparison.

$$ An explanation of the key changes made between the two layouts.

$$ Describe how these changes contribute to improved workflow, reduced travel distances, or better department proximity.

$5.$ Detailed facility layout design $(20$ Marks$)$

Provide a comprehensive and well$-$organized layout that includes a minimum of $15$ departments, clearly labelled with dimensions. The design should highlight improvements made from the initial layout, using visual indicators to illustrate changes in department placement and flow efficiency.

$6.$ Conclusion $(5$ Marks$)$

Summarize the key improvements made in the optimized layout. Highlight how the changes have benefited the overall efficiency of the facility, considering aspects such as the flow, proximity, and department placement.

Important Notes:

$$ Your report should be well$-$structured, with proper headings for each section.

$$ Properly reference all sources and graphical images used in your report.

$$ The layout must include a minimum of $15$ departments, including auxiliary and service support departments.

$$ Your report must not exceed $5$ pages.