Best designed working shop you've been in?

[binder man]

I'm about to put up a 60x40 (may be subject to change). What is the best design you guys have seen as far as location of doors and office and such? My original thought was one door in the middle of the narrow end with the lifts angling off on both sides if need be. But what I ran into there is I do semi work along with pickup/automobile work. So when I pulled a semi in it would block alot of the bays.

My next thought is very close to the above. One door offset to the right side of the narrow end. The office and main walk in door on the left side. In the back of the office/ reception area would be a clean room sectioned off from the office for engine/transmission work. This seems the best to me as that area would be almost impossible to get a truck into anyway. There will be a door going from the office into work area. This way I could still angle the bays in with one or two 2 posts and a 4 post (eventually) and still be able to pull a semi all the way in and get vehicles out.

The next idea I have is almost identical as above with the exception of your door being in the back with the office on the other opposite corner. Once again you could pull a semi up to the front wall and the office would block the one side leaving room for your lift bays behind to easily maneuver a vehicle in or out.

So what are your guys thoughts on the best layout for a working shop?

 

[Nighttrain]

Here is my 40x60 with a 340 Pete in it to give you an idea of sapce.. My office is down the one side and takes up a lot of space 16'X40'. If I need more floor space like you are looking for I would do the door like I have (12'x14') on the one side and then maybe some smaller doors along the side to side load your cars. I have some more pictures in my build thread to help you get some size ideas.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Why don't you spend a few hours with an architect or someone who knows planning and design to help you out?

Small front end cost to know the rules of planning, cost per sq.ft., zoning regs. and how to best lay out your shop with options for expansion if necessary.

It's not a 4 or 5-year licensed technical degree just to give "advice" and take the money. Most know their **** and are wise. A couple of beers or a lunch often gets you a lot of free advise.

Or not, if you believe you know it all.

 

[binder man]

Well there is no architects within an hour. We have no zoning, where it will be. Not saying it wouldn't be worth my time. I don't believe I came off as believing I know it all. But I was just asking what the best arranged shop people had been in. I've been in several and worked in quite a few. I really don't plan on building again. I'd like to do it once and expand if need be. But I know there will always be one of those, why didn't I think of doing that kind of things when I walk in another shop somewhere.

 

[gt40mkii]

Well there is no architects within an hour.

Who said you had to meet with them face-to-face? You can get a lot done with a telephone and a web-connected PC> I have virtual meetings with engineers from all over the planet and discuss things a lot more complex than designing a workshop and these virtual meetings work just fine.

I'd like to do it once and expand if need be. But I know there will always be one of those, why didn't I think of doing that kind of things when I walk in another shop somewhere.

I think perhaps the question you should be asking is "Does anyone have any suggestions for designing and building a X square-foot shop for doing Y kind of work? I have $Z to spend."

 

[PECVD2]

Binder Man,

1st off I know diddly about automotive shops.
But have had the opportunity to work in shops sized from--- rail car(s) are moved down the center as groups of engineers/tech/mechanics/QA/others work as the item is moved through production to smaller multi-million dollar outfitted design/fab/test/production/service shops.
All these shops were designed by teams of architects/engineers/planners/etc.
They are never "one size fits all" but almost all have one underlying theme-triangles. Much like a good kitchen design.
So I would think of the three main tasks performed in your shop and build around that. These triangles work spaces could be built around other triangle work spaces around the main office area or spare parts room or whatever seems to be common to all the tasks .... just my experience.

 

[ersatzs2]

Once toured a boeing aircraft assembly plant. Wow. Incredible level of cleanliness and organization. One concept I have never forgotten: every time they used a wrench, they would return it to it's holder immediately, even if they 'knew' they'd need it again in 2 minutes. They insisted that time-and-motion studies proved that even though it feels like extra steps at the time, over the long haul the time saved searching for temporarily misplaced tool is worth it...

 

[Zeke]

Can you post a floor plan? I like the offset idea the best. I think I'd want another way for the cars to get in/out if a truck blocks anything. Maybe an 8' center drive to an 8' door on the back side narrow end. You might even be able to put the lifts in square saving a lot of floor space. No truck, just make a hard left to the lift. With a truck, well you might have to put 2 wheels on casters to swing it out.

But I can't really see it without the interior buildouts.

 

[gt40mkii]

Once toured a boeing aircraft assembly plant. Wow. Incredible level of cleanliness and organization. One concept I have never forgotten: every time they used a wrench, they would return it to it's holder immediately, even if they 'knew' they'd need it again in 2 minutes. They insisted that time-and-motion studies proved that even though it feels like extra steps at the time, over the long haul the time saved searching for temporarily misplaced tool is worth it...

This is true. But I think it has more to do with FOD procedures than it does with efficiency. Knowing exactly where your tools are at all times goes a long way towards preventing folks from leaving a wrench inside whatever you're working on. In an airplane this is a Very Bad Thing.

I've worked at Lockheed martin as well as other aerospace and defense contractors. They all have similar approaches to this. "Everything has a place and everything in its place" is taken to another level and if you violate it, you're fired. (OK, not that extreme, but laying a tool down in the wrong place is BAD ju-ju.)

Most of the time though, the worker has a small toolbox or tote big enough to hold the various tools he needs for a specific task. He takes his tote to the tool crib, checks out the individually-numbered tools from the tool crib manager, and puts them in his tote. Then he's free to go do his task. The tools are in one of three places at all times: the tool crib, the tool tote, or his hands. At the end of the shift the tool crib is inventoried and any missing tools have to be accounted for by the guy who checked them out. If he can't produce the missing tool, he's in deep doo-doo.

I use the same thing when I'm working -- I have totes used to hold the tools I'm using and if I'm not using them, they go into the tote. My totes are sectioned so that small parts and fasteners also go into the tote to keep me from losing them. It works pretty well as long as I don't knock over the tote!

 

[gorilla]

I also don't know much about automotive repair shops but my experience with large fabrication shops taught me that large doors on both end of the building are well worth the extra cost.

 

[binder man]

Binder Man,

1st off I know diddly about automotive shops.
But have had the opportunity to work in shops sized from--- rail car(s) are moved down the center as groups of engineers/tech/mechanics/QA/others work as the item is moved through production to smaller multi-million dollar outfitted design/fab/test/production/service shops.
All these shops were designed by teams of architects/engineers/planners/etc.
They are never "one size fits all" but almost all have one underlying theme-triangles. Much like a good kitchen design.
So I would think of the three main tasks performed in your shop and build around that. These triangles work spaces could be built around other triangle work spaces around the main office area or spare parts room or whatever seems to be common to all the tasks .... just my experience.

This is what I'm looking for. It's the little things that make a shop easy to maneuver around and just have a well thought out feel. I'll start drawing up a floorplan.

As far as amount to spend, it just depends. I have a number but I'm not going to post it because someone might think there "idea" is out of my range. Lets not assume its a full no budget build, but I do plan on dropping some money. Like I said this will hopefully be the "last" build.

I'm already planning on floor heat. A good floor coating. 2 two posts and a four posts. The office will be split possibly by a counter or window into a "clean" room. Probably a window, I know pulling headstuds can get some pretty nasty burnt oil smells I'd rather not have in a office/reception area. A I beam trolley system capable of a ton or a little over. Some parts storage over office/clean room. Planning on a sink/shower/toilet in the shop as I enjoy being clean when I'm ready to get in my truck and go home. Really considering a possible loft space extending out from the office where underneath I can house my box, AC machine, parts cleaner, bead blast cabinet. There will be a small overhead garage door going into the the clean room to be able to easily wheel in a motor on a stand or ******.

These are all just ideas as stated. Variable to change by the minute as I'm very indescisive when it comes to my shops as like I said I want this to be set up just right.

 

[Galaxie]

I'd suggest more than 1 door. We have a 60x40 with 4, 3 on one side for 3 bays and one opposite the middle door for a pull through to storage (building is 60x100). Even just 1 more door would open up your options especially if one was wide enough to serve both lifts say 12'-14' and the second maybe only 10'. Originally we were going with at least 2 if not all 3 doors on the 60' side and one 10-12' on the 40' side to allow access for one semi trailer which would park through the bays. The way the shop ended up being laid we couldn't do that so all doors are on the 60' sides. We are only putting 1 lift in but it is going on one side with the smallest door, think it is 10'x12' where the others are 18'x14' (another matching on opposite wall) and 12'x14'.

 

[mtwaterguy]

My 40 x 96 has doors on both front and back sides for easy access. Seven doors all together. I don't want to be in a position where I can't get a vehicle in or out when necessary.

 

[Will67]

What I did was draw out my building exterior walls, and then cut out construction paper of all my various wood and metal working tools (welding table, table saw, band-saw, jointer, and other non moveable pieces) and vehicles placed them. Sounds lame, but it did make me adjust my build depth to allow me to park my F250 inside if I wanted.

 

[joecon]

The layout of the shop is set by the work you do and the climit you are in.If you do
quick service you want a door for each lift, if you do big jobs that are in the bay a long
time you can have fewer doors.If you live in a cold place you want to have fewer door,
or if you have A/C.Big trucks make a drive though bay nice.Seting up diferant bays for
diferant tasks is also a good thing.

 

[Hootbro]

This is true. But I think it has more to do with FOD procedures than it does with efficiency. Knowing exactly where your tools are at all times goes a long way towards preventing folks from leaving a wrench inside whatever you're working on. In an airplane this is a Very Bad Thing.

I've worked at Lockheed martin as well as other aerospace and defense contractors. They all have similar approaches to this. "Everything has a place and everything in its place" is taken to another level and if you violate it, you're fired. (OK, not that extreme, but laying a tool down in the wrong place is BAD ju-ju.)

Most of the time though, the worker has a small toolbox or tote big enough to hold the various tools he needs for a specific task. He takes his tote to the tool crib, checks out the individually-numbered tools from the tool crib manager, and puts them in his tote. Then he's free to go do his task. The tools are in one of three places at all times: the tool crib, the tool tote, or his hands. At the end of the shift the tool crib is inventoried and any missing tools have to be accounted for by the guy who checked them out. If he can't produce the missing tool, he's in deep doo-doo.

I use the same thing when I'm working -- I have totes used to hold the tools I'm using and if I'm not using them, they go into the tote. My totes are sectioned so that small parts and fasteners also go into the tote to keep me from losing them. It works pretty well as long as I don't knock over the tote!

I have seen taken one step further where every job has it's own shadowed tool kit. Every tool for that job was in the kits. Once job was done, kit is returned and another tool kit is issue for the next job.

If a tool came up missing in a particular kit, you know by the job it was assigned to as the main area where to search for the lost tool.

 

[gonefirefighting]

I built a shop for a guy years ago and always liked his set up. he had two tall doors on each end and had smaller doors on each side.

no matter what was going on in the shop there was always a way to get access in or out for anything regardless of what delivery showed up or what projects were on the floor.

 

[kbs2244]

In a place that size you are going to need ideas from guys that work on big stuff.

A good place to start is;

http://www.agriculture.com/media-center/video/successful-farming/best-of-top-shops-2012_540-23347

 

[sberry]

I would go wider to start with, 50 cost very little more than 40, would skip the thought of more than 2 doors in one end if possible and its about likely we do similar work, don't need a clean room. Door location is really crucial but adding many you will never use isn't any good either. This building isn't that huge to start socking doors everywhere. I like to figure for traffic flow, both the work and people, office should not be way in back corner and I like to enter building before walking in to officer if this makes sense, enter building, enter office, you can skip an outside walk door.
Doors on both ends may be nice in some shops but here there is not space, running wall space is the most valuable asset in a small building, doors just chop it up and take room away from tools.