If you have a cluttered and disorganized auto shop, you sending a negative message to prospective customers who might drop by for some information. Since mechanics tend to charge jobs according to parts and labor, the thought of a mechanic having to dig through piles or tools or sort through random boxes of bits and drivers sends a huge warning sign about inefficiency. Employees who spend most of their time navigating through the chaos aren’t able to do their job well and in a timely fashion. If you have found that your shop is suffering in the area of productivity, it might be time to take a good look at the way the place is organized. Spend a little time and effort to revamp your workspace into a more functional and organized center of activity.
- Create a Plan
Before you charge ahead with moving things here and there, create a simple plan that works with the flow of your operations. Evaluate current storage and shelving usage and find out if there is a need or if reorganizing will be enough.
- Go Vertical
You can take advantage of the space in your shop by going vertical with storage needs. You can install hooks on the walls, or you can make a bigger investment by mounting cabinets or overhead racks near workbenches or on the walls.
- Be Flexible
The amount of work you will have at any given time will vary, and your storage needs should be able to accommodate the needs of several employees at one time. By using rollaway storage solutions, you can easily and quickly move equipment that is the most common to your tasks from one work station to another. You can install phenolic caster wheels to the base of existing equipment, as these casters are highly resistant to corrosion from the chemicals, oil, and grime that may be found in your shop.
- Establish Stations
By having immediate access to spill kits, it will be easier for employees to clean up a mess as soon as it happens. Establish two or more stations where employees can find mops, drip pans, brooms, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and a trash can.
- Label Everything
By labeling everything and where everything goes, it will be easier for everyone in the shop to be on the same page with organization. Have plenty of storage bins or containers on hand so new categories can be made whenever needed, rather than piling it up on a shelf.
Cleaning at the end of each day is also helpful for staying organized, but deep cleaning one a month will help you really stay on track. The more organized you are, the better your shop’s performance and efficiency will be.
