New production techniques, new material handling equipment, larger investments, higher expectations - when it comes to facilities planning there is no room for "business as usual." Today every company must insist on the highest return on their investment, not just to prosper, but to survive. Updated with the latest advances, "Facilities Planning, Third Edition" introduces current practices, and shows how to approach facilities planning with creativity and precision. The text guides you through each step in the planning process, from defining requirements to developing alternative material handling techniques and manufacturing/waterhouse operations to selecting and evaluating facilities plans. You'll learn how to apply quantitative tools and the engineering design principles to achieve highly effective, efficient, and successful plans. Highlights of the Third Edition are: expanded coverage of cost justification safety, cellular management, and computer based training brings new trends to light; detailed, real world examples and problems provide insights into current facilities planning practices; new photos introduce you to the latest material handling equipment; more quantitative problems and a greater variety of helpful questions help you apply the material to your work; and information on software applications, such as VisFactory, introduces you to the new technologies that are affecting facilities planning.