Plant Layout and Design of Central Supply Laundry Department: A Case Study of a Hospital in Songkhla Province

This research focuses on minimizing the distance clean clothes are moved from the drying process to the shipping process by modifying the sorting area for efficient adjustments. The analysis employs the Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) methodology, categorizing relationships between activities into three types: Type A (3 relationship connections), Type I (2 relationship connections), and Type O (2 relationship connections). Two factory layout designs were developed based on this analysis. Layout 1 achieves a total movement distance of 2,014.72 meters from drying to daily shipping, resulting in a significant reduction of 1,160.06 meters compared to the original layout, representing a 37.69% decrease. Layout 2 reflects a total movement distance of 2,073.46 meters, which corresponds to a reduction of 1,218.80 meters from the original layout, or a 35.88% decrease. Qualitatively, the new factory layout enhances workplace safety by reducing the risk of accidents from collisions involving cloth carts, fostering a more positive work environment and increasing employee satisfaction. The design optimizes space efficiency, improving overall organization and workflow within the facility. Furthermore, although the article does not directly address service quality, the reduction in movement distance and time for transporting clean clothes indirectly contributes to improved service quality. This efficiency allows for quicker delivery of clean clothes to various departments, thereby enhancing responsiveness and operational effectiveness.