Criteria for a Good Layout

1. Maximum Flexibility: A good layout will be one which can be rapidly modified to meet changing circumstances. In this context particular attention should be paid to the supply of services, which should be ample and of easy access.
2. Maximum Coordination: Entry into and disposal from any department or functional area should be in such a manner that it is most convenient to the issuing or receiving departments. Layout requires to be considered as whole and not partially.
3. Maximum Visibility: All the people and materials should be readily observable at all times. There should be no hiding places into which goods or information can get mislaid. This criterion is sometimes difficult to fulfil particularly when an existing facility is taken over.
4. Maximum Accessibility:  All servicing and maintenance points should be readily accessible. For example equipment should not be placed against a wall in such a manner that necessary maintenance cannot easily be carried out.
5. Maximum Use of Volume : Facilities  should  be considered as cubic devices and maximum  use a made  of the volume available cables pipelines and conveyors can be run above  head height and  used as moving  work in progress stores, or  tools  and equipment  can be  suspended from the  calling.
6. Minimum Distance:  All movements should be both necessary and direct. Handling work adds to cost but does not increase value, consequently any unnecessary or circuitous movements should be avoided.
7. Minimum Discomfort: Draughts, poor lighting excessive sunlight heat noise, vibrations and smells should be minimized and if possible counteracted. Apparently trivial discomfort often generates troubles greatly out of proportion to the discomfort itself.  Affection paid to the lighting and general decoration and furniture can be rewarding without being costly.
8. Minimum Handling: The best handling of material and information is no handling but where it is unavoidable it should be reduce to a minimum by the use of whatever devices are most appropriate.
9. Inherent Safety: All layouts should be inherently safe, and no person should be exposed to danger.
10. Maximum Security: Safeguards against fire moisture theft and general deterioration should provided as far as possible in the original layout rather than in later accretions of cages doors and barriers.
11. Efficient Process Flow : Work flow and any transport flow  should  not cross .every  effort must be  made to ensure  that paper or material flows in one direction  only ,and a layout  which does  not  conform to this  will  result in considerable  difficulties, if  not downright chaos.
12. Identification: Whenever possible working groups should be provided with their own working space. The need  for a defined  territory seems basic to many  animals including  the human  being  and provision  of a space with  which a person can identify  can often  enhance morale and provide a very  real  feeling  of cohesion.