Plant layout has been described as the arrangement of machines in such a manner that will facilitate production efficiency. An organization might adopt a particular method or a combination of methods depending on the nature of its operations.

Required:
Explain the following:
i) Total quality management (2 marks)
ii) Fixed position layout (2 marks)
iii) Product layout (2 marks)
iv) Process layout (2 marks)

i) Total Quality Management: Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy that continuously emphasizes managing the entire organization to improve product and service quality. It is an organized, organization-wide activity involving all employees.
(2 marks)

ii) Fixed Position Layout: This is the type of layout where the product being manufactured remains fixed at a particular place, and workers and materials are transported to that location. This is because the product is too large or fragile to be moved after production.
(2 marks)

iii) Product Layout: Also called line-flow layout, this method refers to the layout in which workstations are arranged in such a way that each product or service follows a path that is pre-determined by the product’s processing requirements. The main feature of this method is that resources are placed to maximize product flow.
(2 marks)

iv) Process Layout: With this layout, identical processes are located together. It is convenient for the operation to group them together or to improve the use of transforming resources. This means that when products, information, or customers flow through the operation, they take a route from process to process according to their needs.
(2 marks)