How to Design a New Workshop Layout
Q. What are the Factors to Consider when Designing a New Workshop Layout
A. The factors to consider when designing a new workshop layout are workflow, available floor space, available volume and inventory.
These are the four key points, and most other factors fit within these points, or are dependent upon the successful completion of these four.
Workflow is the consideration for how you wish to work. Depending upon what you are doing, you will wish to minimise your walking, have processes flow into subsequent processes and have parts and tools available in locations convenient to what you are working on. Related considerations would be the locations of power, compressed air and other services, any segregation requirements for different processes (eg. welding areas need to be segregated from powdercoating) and the allowance for access to get your materials into the workzone and your finished product out of it.
The available floorspace is next, once you have determined your workflow, as you now need to apply the flow to the available footprint. This stage is mostly 2 dimensional - based solely upon the available floor space - however; there are definitely workflows that could benefit from 3-dimensional layouts, and cranes and conveying systems may become part of the planning. Considering your available volume can also result in reduced real-estate costs.
Finally, your inventory is a key consideration. You know your processes. You will know the tools you require and the materials you will need. From here, you need to work out an efficient means to hold and store this inventory relative to the work bay, giving priority to efficiency and ease of access.
At BAC Systems, we work with these considerations in mind. We come to your site to survey your inventory, to measure up the available space, and to interview your staff to learn how you wish to work. We then put together a solution with you, designed around the BAC Systems range of modular storage and modular workbenches.
To arrange your complimentary site survey, please contact us at BAC Systems today - 02 9832 2777 / bacsales@bacsystems.com.au.
