Relationship Between Plant Layout and Material Handling

There is a close relationship between plant layout and material handling. A good layout ensures minimum material handling and eliminates rehandling in the following ways:

1. Material movement does not add any value to the product so, the material handling should be kept at minimum though not avoid it. This is possible only through the systematic plant layout. Thus a good layout minimises handling.
2. The productive time of workers will go without production if they are required to travel long distance to get the material tools, etc. Thus a good layout ensures minimum travel
   for workman thus enhancing the production time and eliminating the hunting time and travelling time.
3. Space is an important criterion. Plant layout integrates all the movements of men, material through a well designed layout with material handling system.
4. Good plant layout helps in building efficient material handling system. It helps to keep material handling shorter, faster and economical. A good layout reduces the material backtracking, unnecessary workmen movement ensuring effectiveness in manufacturing.

Thus a good layout always ensures minimum material handling.

Source: KumarAnil, Suresh N. (2009), Production and operations management, New Age International Pvt Ltd; 2nd Ed. edition.