Layout plays a vital role in ensuring the efficiency of the process design. Layout involve utilizing business space via the arrangement between people and equipment and machines in effective manner so that the people movement and information flow are smooth long the process. In many kinds of industry nowadays, the efficiency of business also can be determined by its layout design. As the McDonalds example which succeed create competitive advantages through its layout design, businesses also have to plan well their layout or make changes of the old layout to ensure they can stay competitive in market. However, in determining best layout, company have to consider which there are two primary differences between manufacturing and service layout which it based on the factors of the production flow of the product and the degree of customer contact.

I take an example of service layout which have a high degree of customer contact, Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) which as for me LCCT has efficient layout, even old-looks design, not so class as it built for the economy and low budget, suit with it names. LCCT is a fixed position layout whereby all the workers, equipment, planes and passengers come to the LCCT to have the services. In my opinion, like all projects, the kind layout is due to cost which it was a major factor that led to the LCCT being where and what it is today. The site was selected as it had a ready apron to accommodate several aircrafts, and it had ready road and services suitable for a terminal. LCCT was designed to be temporary, able to handle up to 10 million passengers per annum and accommodate the high growth of passenger movements for the low cost Airlines, especially the passengers of Malaysia's first 'no-frills' airline, Air Asia. It was essentially made up of the following components, the arrival/departure passenger forecourt or curbside, the Check-in concourse, the Domestic Departure and Arrival halls, the International Departure and Arrival halls, the Airside Apron Stand, and the Terminal Support facilities. To accommodate all these facilities, a single level terminal was designed to enable the efficient processing of passengers without the need for passenger-loading bridges. Airline and management offices are housed on the mezzanine floor, to take advantage of the high ceiling spaces. The unusually large mezzanine floor was the result of Air Asia Berhad moving its corporate offices into the Terminal. In observance to the low cost carrier business model, would be no escalators, aerobridges and thus, be able to have a shorter turnaround time, it is designed to facilitate the passenger's movement of international and domestic departures and arrivals within a single floor operation area. Below is the layout of the domestic departure in the LCCT.

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Based on my experience, getting there is easy, just follow the exit to the Sepang Circuit/Mas Cargo, which is the first exit after the KLIA toll. Since it is a low cost terminal, one needs to bear the fact that this terminal only has the basic facilities for an airport and should not expect anything grand like KLIA. Do not be fool by the warehouse look of the terminal. Although its look (exterior-wise), this new LCCT has all the facilities which is up to international standard. Once you step in the departure hall, you can just to straight to check in counter, its just a quick process. However, AirAsia extend the easier process whereby they had introduced self check in where passenger can have their boarding pass via SMS or printed email during online ticket booking. If we already have the self check in boarding pass, then we can just straight away to scanning the baggage through Immigration and heading to departure gate for just only with a few steps. It’s really safe out time and energy. I have used the LCCT frequently and I really like the "economy" of it. I do not understand the complaints about the "low class" because all I want is to get to be able to board the plane as soon as possible when departing and get out of the airport as soon as possible when I arrive. I certainly did not like the lengthy walks at KLIA and LCCT does just that. With the exception of the distance, I love the airport. However too bad they do not have the internet connection area unlike Changi’s Budget Terminal (Singapore). There are three foods and beverage outlet and a retail outlet at the main concourse including Coffee Bean Café, what so class this LCCT.

As mentioned earlier, the implementation of efficient layout is based on the types of product and the production’s objectives itself. Layout may changes from time to time due to the company expanding, introduction of advanced technology and the needs of humans interface. For bread manufacturing company, Silver Bird Sdn Bhd with its line of hit product like High5, swiss roll

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Waiting Area

Departure Gates

Main concourse area
- Departure Process

Self check in

Baggage checking

Baggage and Immigration scanning

Check in counter