have full flexibility

employ conveyor belts, trucks, tractors etc.

be a general purpose type

be designed as special purpose for a particular application

an idea of the flow of materials at various stages

a compact estimate of the handling which must be done between various work sections

the information for changes required in rearranging material handling equipment

an approximate estimate of the handling which must be done at a particular station(g) solution to handling techniques to achieve most optimum^ results.

batch production

continuous production

effective utilization of machine

all of the above

overall simplification, safety of integration

economy in space

maximum travel time in plant

to provide conveniently located shops

specialisation exists

machines are arranged according to sequence of operation

few number of non-standardised units are to be produced

mass production is envisaged