making workshop efficient

[Beanmetalworks]

Hi looking at improving my workshop been in it year or more now and there still things i want to do to it! but just wanted to see if there was any sort of plans out there of were to place things to make workshop most efficient of if anyway has got any suggestions for example were does the metal rack to make it best position? and were to place band saw and pillar, i know some of this might seem basic but i look at other peoples and sometimes wonder why they have it a certain way? thanks for any help!

 

[julianthegypsy]

Don't look at mine, it's in continual upheaval. one thing I do find useful though is to have the saw by the door, so that when I get six metre lengths of steel delivered I can push them halfway into the saw through the door, chop them in half and bung them straight on the rack. sort of. the forge is at the back because I had to put the hood against the wall and it's out of the way.

 

[cumbriasteve]

The large workshop I was the SO for had the loading bay door - metal rack - bandsaw - layout/welding table in that order.
The steel was racked within a metre of where it was delivered, it was lifted off the rack onto the bandsaw rollers, cut and laid on the welding table, the drills were on the opposite wall a few metres away.

 

[Welderpaul]

Think of the order you do the work...materials come in, sawn to length/sheared to size, then drilled/punched/rolled/formed/bent, tacked together, welded, cleaned up, painted then out of the door (Or variations on the same.)
Set your machines up so they follow the logical order and means the minimum of handling from one process to the other.

When we got our CCTV fitted I spent a while watching the videos. I noticed a lot of double handling going on and excessive movement of materials. That soon stopped.

Daft stuff like putting the linisher next to the saw means while someone is waiting for stuff to cut they can be cleaning the ends up from the stuff that has been cut.

Depends on what space you have available and the shape of your premises i suppose.

 

[wyn]

I'd have thought The steel comes in one end (and stored) then cut it, next put holes in/ notches etc. Then on to stcking it together and paint after that.

 

[Beanmetalworks]

sounds like they way i have it set up now! so im going in right direction at least haha!

 

[ford34/2]

Ergonomic planning, walk the shortest distances to the most used equipment all day long, place the rack where it will be most likely used - the cutting machine, site the rack in line with the door, dont be spinning steel stock 90 degrees to get it into the rack, make sure it is easily accessible.. Consider a well organized "offcuts" rack/storage, not all piled up in a heap.Keep as much free floor area as an assembly /work area. Draw it out and keep moving it around on paper all to scale if possible, consider your options if you need to cut/drill/weld long lengths. Can you spin stuff round 180 degrees or do you have to go outside to be able to do that, are there any rooms with doors that can be left open to feed long lengths into for the unexpected "big" job. If you have worked in the situation you will know what most of your requirements are, but sadly whilst you create the perfect workshop you aint earning any money. I`ve marked big radius jobs out in the back lane on too many occasions. Fortunately I glue wood and not weld steel. But the workshop planning can be similar, work flow from one machine to another with minimal handling. By the time you unload 1/4 ton off the lorry, carry it in cut it etc etc, by 5.00 clock comes you shifted 10 ton of stuff round and round the workshop.

Stan

 

[Beanmetalworks]

thanks welder Paul, i have quite bit of room 30 by 60 in one part then a way and a part next door about twice the size that im allowed to use but not allowed to put anything permanent in so tend to use this for bit of storage and painting! i just sometimes i feel like im moving things around in a non efficient way. like the idea of having linisher next to saw.

 

[Beanmetalworks]

its pretty well set up as it is just got to stage that im alot busier than ever and rather than having to have someone work for me i want to make workshop as efficient as i can to be able to get jobs done in a good amount of time! but like you said changing workshop around doesn't make me money so want to try and do it once.

 

[Welderpaul]

I don't think rearranging your workshop will make you that much more efficient so save employing someone?..

 

[Beanmetalworks]

i would i think have enough work for a part timer but i would rather get more efficient and a better layout to my workshop first before i go to the step of having someone else in my workshop, i like doing the work myself lol!