What facility layout groups operations of similar nature or function together and is based on departmental specialties?

• A. Product layout
• B. Cellular layout
• C. Fixed-position layout
• D. Functional layout

Answer: (D)

This question tests how a facility structures work by function. In a functional layout, operations that require similar skills or equipment are placed in the same area, forming departments that reflect those specialties. This setup groups like activities together (for example, all machining in one area, all welding in another), allowing the organization to leverage specialized resources and flexible routing through the plant. It’s particularly suitable when there is a high mix of products or jobs and lower to moderate volumes, because you can handle a variety of tasks without reconfiguring the whole layout.

By contrast, product layouts arrange work by the sequence of steps for a specific product, cellular layouts organize machines into cells for families of products, and fixed-position layouts bring the resources to a large, stationary item. The description given aligns best with a functional layout.