A manufacturing facility requires a significant financial investment, and if you’d like a return on your investment, there are some vital considerations for designing a manufacturing plant to keep in mind. All these factors affect the plant’s ability to be functional so produce can get produced and your employees can be safe. Since factories undergo long hours of production, house-heavy equipment, and the staff work for long periods, plan for everything from infrastructure to ventilation to sustainability.
Space
Whether you’re looking for existing structures or constructing a new site, you’ll want a facility that can handle your current production methods and any future growth. You’ll need to consider not only the width and depth of the space, but also the height. If you require tall equipment, such as overhead conveyors, you’ll need high roofs.
Layout
You’ll also need to spend a significant amount of time on the layout of the plant since it’ll heavily influence the construction of the facility, your labor patterns, and your product output. Allow for flexibility so you can make room for growth or streamlining the production process later.
Ventilation
There are two elements to consider when choosing an HVAC system: the health and comfort of their employees and ventilation for machinery. You might need to invest in separate systems for heating, cooling requirements, and equipment ventilation. In either case, monitor any HVAC to ensure it’s providing the correct airflow.
Employee Facilities
Include facilities for your employees to ensure high morale and effortless operations. This ranges from providing safety equipment, such as PPE, fire extinguishers, and wash stations to staff break rooms, a cafeteria, and even recreational spaces.
Eco-Friendliness
More and more consumers are environmentally conscious about the products they buy. Designing your factory with sustainable practices, like recycling and horticulture, can make a notable difference to your customers and help to create brand loyalty.
These considerations for designing a manufacturing plant will help you create an efficient production space that is green, efficient, and comfortable for the employees. It’ll ensure you see a return on your investment.
