A new method for the scientific layout of workspaces.

All too often the layout of an office, laboratory, or plant is left to planners who apply seat-of-the-pants techniques or, at best, intuitive and general layout guidelines to work space layout, principally because they have no scientific tools at their disposal. This article describes a newly developed, computer-aided method which produces near-optimum placement of personnel, equipment and supplies in new or existing facilities. The technique has been applied and tested in a number of situations. This new semi-automatic method and the results of the validation tests are described.