As is clearly visible, this layout has a workstation
configuration with a more complex material flow than the
empirical layout. The U‐shaped configuration is available
only for a few operations, in a similar fashion to the
empirical layout case. As for the empirical layout, the SLP
gives a more efficient organization of the auxiliary elements
and generates a reduction of the distances between the final
phases and the other workstations. Finally, the main
requirement of keeping similar operations close to one
another is only respected to a limited extent.
4.3 Lean approach
The layout derived from the application of a wider lean
Manufacturing approach, was obtained according to the
four progressive phases presented in the methods section.
In particular, the value stream map was performed so as
to better understand the actual configuration of the
process production and to identify and eliminate waste.