Video Case:2.

- Facility Layout at Wheeled Coach Ambulance

1. Lea el caso prctico siguiente.
2. View the video tour of Wheeled Coach Ambulance that addresses its
layout issues, then view the video clip containing the authors'
observations.
3. If you wish to have further background, reread the material on layout in
Chapter 9.
4. Answer the questions about the case, and if your instructor wishes, email your answers to him or her.
In this case, we look at how Wheeled Coach has designed its facility. Chapter 9
provides information on different approaches to efficient layouts. Six of these
approaches are: Project (fixed position), Job Shop (process focused), Office,
Retail, Warehouse (storage), and Repetitive/Continuous (product oriented).
These six approaches and examples are shown in Table 9.1 in the text.
As a large volume ambulance manufacturer, Wheeled Coach is constantly
challenged to find efficient production methods. Both ambulance diversity and
volume challenge Wheeled Coachs operations managers. Virtually no two
ambulances are the same. Additionally, the technology that goes into
ambulances, which are now miniature hospitals, is constantly changing. These
three variables, volume, variety, and change, present a number of challenges
to Wheeled Coach. Among these challenges is layout.
Thinking of Wheeled Coach as a mass customizer may help to understand the
issue confronting their layout. Wheeled coach has approached the layout
problem in a unique way.
First, painting and aluminum fabrication are in focused work centers. A brief
presentation of focused work centers, work cells, and focused factories is
shown in Table 9.2.

Second, several work areas, such as wiring, cabinetry, and upholstery are
organized as flexible work cells. The cells themselves are modular with many
workbenches and staging racks borne on wheels so that they can be easily
rearranged. This flexibility can accommodate changes in product mix and
volume, as well as facilitate easy movement of components to the assembly
line.
Third, the final assembly line is a special version of a repetitive line. It is
product oriented, but designed for flexible material and labor usage. Once an
ambulance is committed to the assembly line, it must move forward each day
to the next workstation. Maintaining this balance of just enough workers for
each of the changing mix of ambulances on each of the assembly lines is a
never-ending challenge. Too many workers not only wastes money, but they
end up running into each other; too few cannot finish the assigned tasks on
schedule.
The growth of Wheeled Coach has resulted in fabrication and assembly being
done in several buildings. Consequently, there are shortcomings in the layout.
The separate buildings require more movement of material than is ideal.
Discussion Questions
1. What analytical techniques are available to help a company like Wheeled
Coach deal with layout problems?
2. What suggestions would you make to Bob Collins about his layout?
3. How would you measure the "efficiency" of this layout?