Where should the toilets be in the factory? A case study in Brazil

Abstract

Improved sanitation has a significant benefit for both public health and the economy. Sanitation for all is a component of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, the literature reveals that some workplaces reprimand employees for using washrooms outside of formal, scheduled breaks due to the perceived negative impact on productivity. Furthermore, research shows that women often limit their washroom visits in workplaces where the facilities are far from their workstations, influenced by concerns about reprimand. While placing washrooms inside production areas is sometimes discouraged for certain plants based on the products they manufacture, managers may remain resistant to the idea even when no such restrictions apply. As a result, a conflict arises between employee health and productivity. This paper aims to mitigate this conflict and contribute to the literature by presenting, for the first time, a case in which locating washrooms within the production facility, detached from its perimeter walls, and near the department with the highest employee density can be economically beneficial. The case studied involved designing a new plant for a Brazilian garment manufacturer via Systematic Layout Planning. Layout alternatives were evaluated using Discrete-Event Simulation and a Net Present Value analysis. Results showed that having washrooms inside the production area becomes economically viable when the profit per unit surpasses $7.81 in the case studied. This case suggests that managers should consider placing washrooms within the production area during layout planning, thereby challenging the hegemonic discourse that restrooms should never be inside a production facility.