Flow Patterns

1
Flow Patterns

• Within Workstations

• Motion studies
• Ergonomics

• Simultaneous
• Symmetrical
• Natural
• Rhythmic
• Habitual

• End-to-end
• Back-to-back
• Front-to-front
• Circular
• Odd-angle

• Product
• Process

• Within departments

• Parallel
• Perpendicular
• Diagonal

2
Flow Patterns (cont)

• Between Departments

• Criterion to evaluate overall flow within a
  facility

• Four general flow patterns

• Straight Line
• U-shaped
• S-shaped
• W-shaped

• Combine flow pattern with location of entrance
  and exit

• At the same location
• On adjacent sides
• On same side but at opposite ends
• On opposite sides

3
Flow Planning

• Hierarchical process

• Maximize directed flow paths
• Minimize flow
• Minimize the costs of flow

Maximize directed flow paths

• Directed flow path?

An uninterrupted flow path progressing directly
from origination to destination

• Uninterrupted flow path?

A flow path that does not intersect with other
paths
4
Flow Planning (cont)
Minimize flow

• Eliminate intermediate flow steps by planning
  delivery to point of use
• Minimize multiple flows fewest possible moves
• Combine flows and operations

Minimize the cost of flow (either of two options)

• Minimize manual handling walking, travel
  distances, motions
• Eliminate manual handling automating flow

5
Measuring Flow

• Quantitative Flow Measurement
• pieces/hour, moves/day, pounds/week
• From-to Chart similar to mileage chart
• Qualitative Flow Measurement
• preference on closeness of two departments
• Relationship chart (REL chart)