Industrial Management 149

product is varied, the volume of the various kinds
of work.
“In any manufacturing plant there are certain
things which must have fixed locations, such as walls
and columns of buildings, doors, machines and
equipment. The problem of plant layout is to
arrange and locate these things which are fixed so
that the route traveled by the material will be as
short as possible and its progress smooth and rapid.
The degree of accuracy with which the fixed equipment
 is located in relation to the flow of work determines
 the degree of economy which can be secured
in the operation of the finished plant.
“A good layout is important to the management
because it saves money and reduces the time required
to manufacture goods. A proper layout increases
the satisfaction of the workman in his job, because
he does not have to spend a part of his day in taking
steps or making motions that are unnecessary,
hence he can direct more energy into his productive
effort.
Obviously it is more easy to secure a good layout
when erecting a new building than when rearranging
 an old one. But it is more often necessary to
make use of an existing building and great savings
are made possible by a careful study of this
problem.”
“In the process of making a silver-plated candlestick
 it traveled by a route 4000 meters long. This
route was shortened by relocating the equipment.