Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A process layout is a design configuration within a facility where operations and equipment are grouped by their function. This setup is common in environments where products vary significantly and require different processing steps.
A product layout arranges operations and equipment in a linear sequence, often used in assembly line environments where products are relatively uniform and produced in high volumes.
Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS): An arrangement that combines the high productivity of the product layout with the flexibility of the process layout, typically using computer-controlled machines that can be quickly reprogrammed to handle different tasks.
Cellular Manufacturing: A manufacturing approach that seeks to achieve a compromise between process and product layouts by grouping different machines into cells that can process items having similar shapes or processing requirements