Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chains, 12e (Krajewski)
Supplement K Layout
1) A layout is the physical arrangement of human and capital resources used by processes clustered
together into operations.
2) A closeness matrix can reflect the qualitative judgments of managers and employees, or can be based
upon the number of trips between each pair of departments.
3) A(n) ________ gives the relative importance of each pair of operations or departments being located
close together.
4) Describe the appearance and use of a closeness matrix.
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K.2 Step 2: Develop a Block Plan
1) A block plan allocates space and indicates the placement of each department within the framework of a
new or existing facility.
2) A block plan is a table that gives a measure of the relative importance of each pair of centers being
located close together.
3) Euclidean distance calculations are usually more realistic than rectilinear distance calculations when
determining the walking distance between operations in a building.
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Figure K.1
Acme Machine is a job shop that makes specialty parts for the airline industry. Figure #1 below shows the
block plan for key manufacturing operations in its current facility. Acme believes there may be a way to
reduce the total distance traveled between departments. Consider the two revisions that have been
suggested, based on the closeness matrix shown below the block plans. The aisles are shown by the
dotted lines in Figure 1.
Dept. Pair
Closeness
Factor (w)
Original
Distance
(dO)
w dO
Revision #1
Distance
(d1)
w d1
Revision #2
Distance (d2)
w x d2
1 – 2
1 – 3
1 – 4
1 – 5
1 – 6
2 – 3
2 – 4
2 – 5
2 – 6
3 – 4
3 – 5
3 – 6
4 – 5
4 – 6
5 – 6
TOTAL
4) Use the information in Figure K.1. If travel between departments is restricted to the aisles shown in
Figure 1, what is the total weighted-distance (wd) score for the block plan shown in Figure 1?
A) less than or equal to 30
B) greater than 30 but less than or equal to 60
C) greater than 60 but less than or equal to 90
D) greater than 90
5) Use the information in Figure K.1. If travel between departments is restricted to the aisles shown in
Figure 1, what is the total weighted-distance (wd) score for the block plan shown in Revision 1?
A) less than or equal to 30
B) greater than 30 but less than or equal to 60
C) greater than 60 but less than or equal to 90
D) greater than 90
6) Use the information in Figure K.1. If travel between departments is restricted to the aisles shown in
Figure 1, what is the total weighted-distance (wd) score for the block plan shown in Revision 2?
A) less than or equal to 30
B) greater than 30 but less than or equal to 60
C) greater than 60 but less than or equal to 90
D) greater than 90
7) Use the information in Figure K.1. Considering the current facility situation and the two suggested
revisions, if Acme wishes to minimize the total weighted-distance score, which option should be
selected?
A) current situation—stay with Figure 1
B) Revision 1
C) Revision 2
D) either Revision 1 or Revision 2—they have the same what is the total weighted-distance (wd) score
8) Use the information in Figure K.1. By picking Revision 1, how much would the total wd score be
reduced (from the current facility’s situation) if the revision that minimizes the total wd score were
chosen?
A) None—the current situation in Figure 1 provides the lowest total weighted-distance (wd) score.
B) less than or equal to 30
C) greater than 30 but less than or equal to 60
D) greater than 60 but less than or equal to 90
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Figure K.2
A department store chain is designing a layout for a new store. The store manager wants to provide as
much convenience as possible for her customers. Based on historical data, the number of trips between
departments per hour is given in the following closeness matrix. A block plan showing a preliminary
layout is also shown.
Customer travel between departments is restricted to the aisles shown in the block plan as dotted lines.
Dept. Pair
Closeness
Factor (w)
Original
Distance (dO)
w dO
Revision 1
Distance (d1)
w d1
1 – 2
1 – 3
1 – 4
1 – 5
1 – 6
2 – 3
2 – 4
2 – 5
2 – 6
3 – 4
3 – 5
3 – 6
4 – 5
4 – 6
5 – 6
TOTAL
9) Use the information in Figure K.2. What is the total weighted-distance (wd) score between Office
Supplies and Hardware?
A) less than or equal to 50
B) greater than 50 but less than or equal to 150
C) greater than 150 but less than or equal to 250
D) greater than 250
10) Use the information in Figure K.2. What is the total weighted-distance (wd) score between Hardware
and Toys?
A) less than or equal to 50
B) greater than 50 but less than or equal to 150
C) greater than 150 but less than or equal to 250
D) greater than 250
11) Use the information in Figure K.2. What is the total weighted-distance (wd) score for the entire store?
A) less than or equal to 1,500
B) greater than 1,500 but less than or equal to 2,000
C) greater than 2,000 but less than or equal to 2,500
D) greater than 2,500
12) Use the information in Figure K.2. A suggestion has been made to switch Hardware and Automotive.
What would the total weighted-distance (wd) score for the entire store if these two departments were
switched?
A) less than or equal to 1,000
B) greater than 1,000 but less than or equal to 1,500
C) greater than 1,500 but less than or equal to 2,000
D) greater than 2,000
13) Use the information in Figure K.2. Based on your calculations, would you support the
recommendation to switch Hardware and Toys?
A) Yes, and this is an improvement of 100 – 300 in the weighted-distance (wd) score.
B) No, the travel distances are the same.
C) Yes, and this is a difference of over 300 feet in the weighted-distance (wd) score.
D) We don’t have enough information to determine this.
Figure K.3
The information systems and operations management department of a small college is now designing its
layout for newly built office space. An overhead view of the available office space reveals the following
(note: assume all locations are measured from center point to center point):
14) Use the information in Figure K.3. What is the Euclidean distance between offices A and C?
A) less than or equal to 25 feet
B) greater than 25 but less than or equal to 45 feet
C) greater than 45 but less than or equal to 65 feet
D) greater than 65 feet
15) Use the information in Figure K.3. What is the rectilinear distance between offices A and C?
A) less than or equal to 25 feet
B) greater than 25 but less than or equal to 45 feet
C) greater than 45 but less than or equal to 65 feet
D) greater than 65 feet
16) Use the information in Figure K.3. What is the rectilinear distance between offices B and D?
A) greater than 65 feet
B) greater than 45 but less than or equal to 65 feet
C) greater than 25 but less than or equal to 45 feet
D) less than or equal to 25 feet
17) Use the information in Figure K.3. What is the Euclidean distance between offices B and D?
A) greater than 65 feet
B) greater than 45 but less than or equal to 65 feet
C) greater than 25 but less than or equal to 45 feet
D) less than or equal to 25 feet
18) Use the information in Figure K.3. What pair of locations has Euclidean and rectilinear distances that
are identical?
A) C and D
B) F and E
C) D and E
D) B and A
Figure K.4
A company of four departments has the following closeness factors and current locations of all
departments. Assume rectilinear distance.
19) Use the information in Figure K.4. Which pair of departments has the greatest weighted-distance
score?
A) 1 & 2
B) 1 & 3
C) 1 & 4
D) 2 & 3
20) Use the information in Figure K.4. What is the overall weighted-distance score for the arrangement?
A) 52
B) 48
C) 63
D) 58
21) Using the information in Figure K.4, which of these arrangements has the best weighted-distance
score?
A)
B)
C)
D)