Plant layout the type and efficiency of plant layout is managed differently under Just In Time manufacturing. In traditional job and batch manufacturing, products are moved from one group of identical machine to another. Typically, machines with identical functions are located together in an area referred to as a department or process. Workers who specialize in the operation of a specific machine are located in each department. JIT replaces this tradition plant layout with a pattern of manufacturing department cells. Manufacturing cells contain machines that are grouped on families, usually in a semicircle. The machines are arranged so that they can be used to perform a variety of operations in sequence. Each cell is set up to produce a particular product or product family. Products move from one machine to another from start to finish. Workers are assigned to cells and are trained to operate all machines with in the cell. Thus, labor in a JIT environment is multiskilled, not specialized. Each manufacturing cell essentially a minifactory, and cells are often referred to as factory within a factory. Exhibit 14-4 compares JIT’s plant layout with the traditional pattern.
Cell structure usually produces reduced lead times and lower manufacturing costs. The cellular manufacturing design can also affect plant size and Number of each product passes through departments that specialize in one process. Departments process multiple products. Notice that each product passes through its own cell. All machines necessary to process each product are placed within the cell. Each cell is dedicated to the production of one product or one subassembly.