Production and non-production facilities are critical elements of any company’s business. The manufacturing process doesn’t stop at the manufacturer’s office; there are also production and non-production facilities. A manufacturing plant is an entire complex with a specialized equipment room, assembly lines, and machinery used to produce finished goods. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for designing a manufacturing facility. Each company has its own unique needs and priorities when it comes to building a manufacturing complex. However, once you understand what it takes to design a perfect manufacturing complex, you will have much better ideas in mind when choosing an alternative site for your future factory.
What Is a Manufacturing Complex?
A manufacturing complex is a group of continuous or discrete manufacturing facilities connected by inter-siting or inter-operating lines. The inter-siting may be one-to-one, or it may be multiple-to-many. The physical, functional, and social systems make up a manufacturing complex. The term “complex” usually refers to plant-to-site, but it is possible to have a complex that extends beyond a factory-to-site. A manufacturing complex may be a single facility, such as a factory that produces parts for a specific company, or a series of interconnected facilities, such as a production line that produces various goods.
Understand the Technical Requirements
The technical requirements for a manufacturing facility are very similar to those for a production facility. The most essential requirements are workers’ and equipment safe, secure, and atmospheric working conditions. The plant must have proper exhaust airflow and be able to handle a variety of loads and temperature ranges. It must be large enough to provide adequate equipment and workforce space. It must be located relatively close to the location where production is expected to take place.
Establish a Solid Site Plan
The physical planning for a manufacturing complex is critical to its design and implementation. Most companies first analyze how to build a complex and then go through an extensive planning process. Most manufacturers use a physical site plan or a computer design software tool to design their manufacturing facilities. While both methods provide excellent insight into the design of a complex, the former is usually more suited to larger-scale projects and the latter for smaller-scale production. If you are considering building a complex with more than one facility, it is a good idea first to consider the method and scale of production that will make the complex necessary. When you look at the design of a complex with a single facility, such as a single factory, it can quickly become overwhelming. Doing research on your own can help you get a better idea of the design techniques best for your particular business. The more information you have, the easier it will be to identify different methods and see which one best suits your needs.
Determine How to Build a Complex
When you are designing a complex, you must first understand the technical requirements for each separate facility. Then, you must decide where those requirements can be satisfied. In other words, you must decide which technological requirements will make the most sense for each facility and how those will be satisfied. It is very important to note that each technological requirement that is satisfied must be related to the operation of another technological requirement. Thus, if a process directly affects another process or production line, then that must also be satisfied.
Establish Quality and Safety Controls
When you design and build a complex, it is essential to maintain quality control throughout the facility. This is true whether you are building a goods-to-services facility, a services-to-goods facility, or a combination of both. While the product quality may remain relatively the same regardless of which production line you are using, the level of safety, health, and environmental controls you maintain at each location will be very different. If a certain level of quality is not maintained, things can get messy. Quality control is a very subjective issue. While many variables can affect quality control, one of the most essential factors is control. Suppose you do not have control over the processes used to make a product. In that case, the quality of the product will vary depending on how much work is being conducted at the various points in the manufacturing process.
Choose the Right Tools for the job.
When it comes to designing a complex, you want tools that are easy to use. Although many different types of tools are available for the job, they all have their place in the design process. It is best to use tools that are easy to use and have clear instructions. When it comes to a complex design, a few tools are always a good choice for the job. The first is a CAD/CAM software tool such as EDAStudio. While there are many freeware or free CAD/CAM programs, some professional ones provide complete facilities for use in the design and implementation of complex manufacturing processes. You want tools that are simple to use and that have clear instructions. Among the most popular CAD/CAM software tools is Microsoft’s .NET framework-based software, Microsoft Excel. You want tools that provide a high degree of functionality for complex designs like those needed for a manufacturing facility.
Conclusion
The general rule of thumb when choosing a site for a future factory is this: First, talk to as many people as possible about what they are looking for. Then, find a site that meets your needs and speak to many people about their needs. Finally, find an ideal site and then walk away from the process with the recommended tour. The manufacturing process is an increasingly complex and competitive environment. As a result, it is essential to have tools and techniques that will help you design a complex that is both reliable and maintainable. To find the right tools and designs for your job, you need to talk to as many people as possible about what they are looking for. Finally, find an ideal site and then walk away from the process with the recommended tour.
