A 30-foot by 40-foot covered space and a 2-post lift represent the beginnings of an auto repair shop or hobbyist’s dream workshop. Chances are, you’re probably mentally arranging shop tools and workbenches to maximize the available square footage. But before you install any permanent fixtures, take the time to pre-plan your shop layout to streamline your workflow, improve efficiency, and minimize the potential for an expensive complete shop overhaul later on.
Drawing a scaled-down version of your 30-by-40 shop and sketching out where you want key components—like the 2-post lift—to live can help you visualize the final layout. However, the drawing board should be your second step in the process. Your first step should be to identify the key considerations for organizing your shop. Use this information to arrange your shop in a way that minimizes injury risks, maximizes productivity, and enhances profitability.
Lift manufacturer specifications typically dictate size requirements corresponding to the 2-post lift’s overall footprint. However, accounting for additional square footage around that envelope gives you the workspace necessary to do the job efficiently and safely. The required amount of space beyond the lift’s measurements depends on what size cars you’ll be working on the most and how you’ll maneuver them through the shop.
One of the best ways to visualize all this is to park your vehicle in the shop with informal markers designating where the lift posts will live. Consider your path out of the shop as well. If you can drive through the shop after getting off the lift, you improve your workflow and efficiency, but you may lose space in providing a clear path to the exit.
A garage door opener’s height probably doesn’t mean much to you unless you have a tall or large vehicle. However, the garage door opener and tracks can significantly limit the placement of the 2-post lift. Locating your lift away from the garage door opening can help alleviate the problem, but it’s not always the best option in terms of efficiency and space optimization.
Some shop owners install specific garage door opener styles to minimize the interference between the lift posts and the garage door tracks. Although this solution can help if you only plan on lifting the car below this height, it may not allow you to park or pass under the lift if you want to store more cars inside the shop.
Picturing how many vehicles you want or can accommodate at one time can help you maximize the available space and plan ahead. Even if your auto shop wasn’t necessarily built for car storage, you may have to keep a customer’s car inside overnight or over the weekend. In addition, you might want a space to pull a car in and perform simple maintenance without ever having to power up the lift.
A toolbox, work table, and air compressor are common staples in any auto repair shop, including an enthusiast’s retreat. Adding in more equipment can quickly turn open space into valuable real estate. Prioritize finding a convenient home for equipment you’ll use daily, invest in smart shelving solutions to optimize space, and consider storing additional seldom-used equipment in a separate area.
As you use your shop equipment, it won’t take long before you have to figure out where the outlets are located to help you accomplish the task at hand. Planning out your shop with power sources in mind will ensure you’re not endlessly moving large machines around in search of electricity. While extension cords can help out in a pinch, it’s best to plug in directly if and when you can to maintain a safe environment.
Planning for future growth from the start may seem like putting the cart before the horse, but shops with room to grow often scale more efficiently. If you intend to add another lift at some point, build that possibility into your layout. You can also apply this concept to incorporating additional garage or pedestrian doors into the shop to improve convenience and optimize the space to its full potential.
Some of the most successful auto repair shops start out with a small customer base and a shop no larger than yours. Yet planning for the future sets an auto repair business up for success, especially regarding shop management software. Investing in a solid platform like Identifix gives you room to grow and ensures your shop thrives from the beginning.
Identifix Shop Manager streamlines operations to improve efficiency, boost customer satisfaction, provide advanced functionality, and, ultimately, grow sales. Using this cloud-based shop management platform, you can easily generate repair orders, review inventory, and manage jobs. Shop Manager takes overseeing your shop’s daily operations to the next level with over 3 million technician-confirmed fixes, detailed wiring diagrams, and informative labor guides.
When you approach your 30-by-40 shop’s layout as a business owner, you tap into the space’s potential for peak efficiency. Visualizing daily operations, fostering progress, and eventually outgrowing the space teach you the critical lessons necessary for larger auto shops to thrive. Take into account the above considerations as you build the foundation of your shop layout, but don’t forget to add the final brick: scalable shop management software designed with growth in mind.
Identifix offers a suite of shop management tools, from diagnostics and repair to product bundles that package digital marketing, technician training, and merchant services into one convenient, practical, and invaluable resource. Explore the Identifix Shop Manager to discover how you can streamline your auto repair shop and reach beyond your potential.
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