Systematic Layout Planning

Systematic Layout Planning

Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) - A technique established by Richard Muther in which establishes a step-by step planning procedure allowing users to identify, visualize, and rate the various activities, relationships, and alternatives involved in a layout project.

Five Steps to SLP

Step 1: Establish and Chart the Relationships - In this step a user will relate each activity, area, function, or major building feature involved in the layout to all other activity by a closeness desired rating (A,E,I,O,U,X).

What to Do:

A. Identify each activity and list all the activities on the Relationship Chart

B. Determine closeness rating for each activity to all other activities (A–Absolutely necessary, E–Especially Important, I–Important, O–Ordinary Closeness, U–Unimportant, X–Undesirable) using the Relationship Chart.

C. To use the relationship Chart, you must follow the grid. Example: If you are comparing activity 1 with activity 3, you must follow the diamond from activity 1 until you get to where activity 3 intersects activity 1.

D. The diamond cells are split by a dashed line. Use the split diamond cells to record the closeness desired rating on the top and the reason on the bottom. The reason for closeness can be determined by the user. I.e. safety, material flow, equipment usage, etc.

Step 2: Establish the Space Requirements – In this step a user establishes the space, utility, and any other restrictions required for each activity.

What to do:

A. Use the names of the Activities you have used in Step 1 and list them on the Activities Area & Features Sheet.

B. Identify the space requirement for each activity and record them on the sheet under “Area”

C. Identify any other physical restrictions and record on to sheet under using (A,E,I,O,U,X) under “Physical Features Required.”

D. Identify any specific shape or configuration needed for each activity and list them under “Requirements for Shape or Configuration of Area (Space)”

E. Identify any other comments at the bottom of the sheet

Step 3: Diagram the activity Relationship - In this step a user will relate the activities to each other visually using lines based on closeness.

What to do:

A. Use circled numbers as a representation of an activity. Draw out all the activities. Connect the nodes with lines to show the relationship between activities. Four lines connecting nodes is represents the most desired closeness down to one line. A zigzag line represents the most undesirable closeness.

B. Draw in all the activities with “A” rated relationships with four lines

C. If needed, redraw the “A”

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