In designing a process layout, developing a new block plan is a challenge. While developing a new block plan, the distance between two departments is measured. Which of the following is used to solve the location measurement problem?

Hamming distance measures the difference between two strings of equal length, focusing on the number of positions at which the corresponding symbols differ. This metric is primarily used in coding theory and information science, rather than in physical layout design, and does not apply to measuring distances between departments in a facility.

Rectilinear distance is specifically designed for layouts where movement occurs along right angles, making it the most appropriate choice for measuring distances between departments. By considering the grid layout of a facility, it provides a practical and effective means of assessing proximity and optimizing workflow.

Manhattan distance, often synonymous with rectilinear distance, also measures the distance between two points within a grid-based structure by summing the absolute differences of their coordinates. However, the term "rectilinear distance" is more commonly used in the context of process layout design, emphasizing the specific application to the location measurement problem.