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operation in figure 3-4. (Note that obsolete equip-
ment has been removed in the “after” layout
chart.)
USING LAYOUT ANALYSIS
CHARTS
Using the layout chart, you can apply layout
analysis to any given service or retail activity. As
examples, the planning for service activities and
a self-service retail activity afloat will be dis-
cussed here.
Layout of Service Activities
Although layouts for service activities should
be consistent with the broad principles of layout
analysis, each service activity has its own
peculiarities which you must take into account.
Besides the nature and amount of equipment, you
must consider the number of people who will
be working in the shop, the volume of business
you expect, and the amount of space that you
will require for storing incoming and outgoing
work.
Where there is a series of operations to be per-
formed, the relative position of the various pieces
of equipment will have an important bearing on
the efficiency of your operation. Not only should
the equipment be accessible, it should also be
arranged to save wasted motion and to reduce
walking distance. Remember, a convenient ar-
rangement will enable your people to turn out
more work in a shorter time. People usually
produce more when their equipment is close at
hand.
But a good layout goes further than that. In-
dividuals have learned through experience that
operations should be planned to follow one
another in a logical sequence through the shop.
In the case of laundries, for example, space
devoted to the area where the laundry comes in
should be close to the area where it is marked,
identified, and classified. The storage bins should
also be located near the receiving and processing
area. Tumblers should be located close to the
assembly and flatwork section. This principle
applies to all service activities. Work, whether in
the tailor shop, the laundry, or the dry-cleaning
plant, must move smoothly from the time it comes
in as a service request until it is picked up by the
customer as a completed job.
Layout of a Retail
SeIf-Service Activity
The first consideration in installing a self-
service operation is a preconceived, well-thought-
out plan. To plan an efficient and attractive layout
for a retail service activity, you must keep three
objectives in mind:
1. Proper and intelligent circulation of
customer traffic throughout the entire store.
2. Traffic-stopping, appealing displays of
conveniently placed merchandise, that will result
in sales. (Merchandise that is seen and handled
is half sold.)
3. Strategically placed equipment to perform
a twofold function:
a. To lead the customer, after the selection
has been made, through a convenient, rapid,
efficient checkout procedure; and
b. To provide adequate store protection
from pilferage. All equipment should be placed
to focus exits through one narrow point; thus,
adequate security is provided.
You must carefully consider the entire physical
arrangement of the sales area including doors,
windows, posts, and other abutments. The objec-
tive is to lay out the equipment so that the
customer will be induced to circulate around the
entire store before arriving at the check-out stand.
Aisle space may vary from 4 to 6 feet depending
on the confinements oft he room. Six-foot aisles
should be used when you have the space available.
When you are confined to a smaller space, your
heavy traffic or main aisles should be 6 feet wide,
with side aisles narrower, to provide for an easier
flow of traffic.
PLANNING WORK FLOW
As a manager, you must be able to analyze
the work flow of an office or retail operation and
to develop alternative flow process plans. Flow
process analysis is a technique by which you can
analyze the flow and sequence of your operations.
It involves the charting of the steps that must be
performed to complete an operation under pres-
ent methods, analyzing the chart to determine
what improvements can be made, and then
charting a new sequence of steps under proposed
methods you have developed from the analysis.
3-6
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