Layout decisions determines the placement of departments, workstations, machines, and much
more (Jacobs and Chase, 2014). The main goal is to find a way to arrange these elements in a
such a way that ensures a smooth workflow (Jacobs and Chase, 2014). The layout decision of a
company is one of the most important they can make. They need to be able to create a system
that is the most efficient, uses the right amount of time and money, creating the best results,
and meeting the goals of the company. If the right decisions and right layout are not made, that
could lead to many inefficiencies within the company. The layout decision is based on the
certain type of product or service that the company is providing. After taking a look at the
different types of layout formats, I was able to reflect on the process I use when I have to bake
large quantities of decorated sugar cookies and how different my process would be if I changed
it. Right now, the way I decorate my cookies is definitely in an assembly line process. Assembly
line is when equipment or work processes are arranged by the progressive steps in which the
product is made (Jacobs and Chase, 2014).
From start to finish with my cookies, they progress
from step to step and I can’t move on until the step before is completed. If I were to decorate
one individual cookie and a time from start to finish, that would add so much more time to the
overall process.
Jacobs, F. R., & Chase, R. B. (2014).
Operations and supply chain management
. New York:
McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Retrieved August 8, 2020, from http://gcumedia.com/digital-
resources/mcgraw-hill/2013/operations-and-supply-chain-management_ebook_14e.php
