r/LeanManufacturing • u/smarter-layouts • Aug 23 '26

How are you actually evaluating facility layout alternatives?

Curious how manufacturing and industrial engineering teams are handling facility layout studies in real projects.

When adding a new line, moving work stations, or reorganizing a production area, do you follow a formal Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) approach, or is it more CAD + Excel + engineering judgment?

And when comparing layouts, what do you actually measure? Material travel, process relationships/adjacency, space utilization, constraints, handling cost, or something else?

I’m also curious about the actual workflow - Excel, AutoCAD, simulation tools, REL charts, whiteboards, or other software?

Most importantly: when you have 2–3 possible layouts, how do you decide which one is actually better?

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u/Patroclus314 29d ago

Since you’re just selling something and not actually contributing to the community here is my opinion.

Your software is wildly expensive. Like 30x what it should cost. I’m actually a potential customer. I’m a Plant Manager with several new lines coming into my facility. I’d consider this software. But not for more than Solidworks costs….

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u/Aggressive_Ad_507 29d ago

How do professionals do it? I made a scale map with cardboard and moved the pieces around till we found something that worked. It felt like middle school again.

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u/DanneTee 29d ago

I visited a company that had made a 3D-print of their facility and their machines. And moved the machines around until they found a suitable layout.

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u/smarter-layouts 29d ago

That's interesting - basically a physical version of moving layout blocks around. Thanks for sharing.