1. Layout decisions include the best placement of machines, offices, desks, people, and centers. Layout determines flow of materials, people, and information. List at least three layout strategies.
2. Consider the place where you work or where a friend or relative works. Identify the layout strategy used. Explain your answer.
3. Work cells reorganize people and machines in groups so they can focus on making a single product or a group of related products. What are three forms of work cells?
4. Identify two advantages and two disadvantages of work cells.
5. Retail layouts are based on the concept that sales and profits are related to customer exposure to products. Consider your last trip to a large store (Walmart, for example). Identify the store you selected and why.
6. What were your observations about the different departments and their locations?
7. Describe the effectiveness of the servicescapes that you observe in this retail store.
8. What recommendations would you make for improving the layout of this store? You must have at least one recommendation.