Future-proof Layout Design Optimization for HMLV, MTO Manufacturing SME Companies : a Case Study

The master thesis is described as: Research whether a redesign of the lathe department can contribute to a more efficient manufacturing process, research how to better utilize the available workforce with the ageing of operators, and investigate what the best department layout is for Hankamp Gears by delivering a theoretical model and incorporating the lathe operators. The conducted research resulted in a redesigned layout for Hankamp Gears. This was done by filtering articles, arranging the articles based on diameter and production number, decrease lathes needed to produce largest portion of production, creating a specialized cell, incorporating all lathe operators, creating machine couples, settings constraints, use a coding program to show all viable outcomes, adjust these outcomes to reality and simulate the final layout. This resulted in a redesigned and future-proof layout with one lathe department instead of multiple smaller departments.