ARTICLE CRITIQUE The influence of work-cells and facility layout on the manufacturing efficiency, Journal of Facilities Management.

1. Introduction problem, yet thorough analyses of the redesigning of layout in regards to efficiency are not as available. Instead, an understanding of the topic was derived through sources focusing on the specificities of manufacturing layout. The authors manage to show that an overall higher efficiency allows for the facility to handle much larger workloads and also drives down both shortrun and long-run costs. The outcomes also allow for a suggestive redesign of the facility in order to further maximise efficiency. However, it was found that the amount of time a product remains in each cell on the assembly line does not have an effect on the overall output of diesel engines. The author clearly outlined the layout efficiency through redesigns and layout using work-cells in a product-oriented environment. I would interpret that this article would be useful to manufacturers that having low variability in their product and having the ability to use work-cell layout within their facility. 4. Conclusion

This purpose of this paper is to critique the article The influence of work-cells and facility layout on the manufacturing efficiency written by SeyedMahmoud Aghazadeh, Saeedreza Hafeznezami, Lotfollah Najjar and Ziaul Huq. This paper will first summaries the article. Secondly, it will briefly critique the article. Thirdly is the conclusion of the entire article critique. Overall the article was well written, clear and relevant. 2. Summary of the article

It was made clear in the abstract that this article analyses the use of product-oriented layout and a work-cell strategy in order to maximise efficiency. The purpose of the study was made clear in the introduction whereby authors start plainly that with labour costs low in foreign manufacturing, domestic manufacturers must turn to the design of the layout in the facility in order to increase efficiency. Data was collected via a model that using 26 weeks of data between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010 during layout transformations at the case study company based in upstate New York. The findings from this study indicate that there is a strong correlation between the variables improved at both the cell-structures and the product-structures of the facility and the overall efficiency of the manufacturing facility itself. The authors had concluded that redesign of the work-cells and other sections of the facility such as storage can lead to an increase in efficiency. 3. Article critique

This paper has both summarized and critiques the article. The content, strengths and limitations of the article were analyzed and critiqued. To conclude, I would suggest that this article should lie in comparison with more than one company in a similar business for a better assumption to maximise efficiency withstand a greater capacity and will ultimately lead to improved production results. The authors suggested redesign of the facility by using product-oriented layout and a work-cell strategy but fail to acknowledged possibility of rebuilding an entirely new facility.

References
Emerald | The influence of work-cells and facility layout on ... (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/case_studies.htm /journals.htm?articleid=1939419&show=html Seyed-Mahmoud Aghazadeh, Saeedreza Hafeznezami, Lotfollah Najjar, Ziaul Huq, (2011). "The influence of work-cells and facility layout on the manufacturing efficiency", Journal of Facilities Management, Vol. 9 Iss: 3, pp.213 - 224.

The authors had succeeded to discover the case study companys large process-layout problems. Conversely, after reading the abstract and the findings, I would be expecting that the authors will formulate comparison with other manufacturers layout before come to a decision on choosing a model in order to overcome the process-layout problems. I believe that the comparison allows the authors to recommend few layout models accordingly. Besides, there are various studies have been conducted focusing on the facility layout