Thread: Business approach to ONGOING workshop efficiency, and fit out considerations.

Hi All,

I've been hopping from thread to thread, and as someone who's in the process designing an entire fit out to allow:

1. A actual car to go into the garage... for the first time in "a while".
2. Use the space I have left to create wall mounted cabinetry, and custom bench/drawers around the perimeter to fit around my stationary tools.

However, while I'm truly impressed by many of the "sheds" and the "fit outs" here, they're all great for storing stuff, and do offer some significant improvements in work flow over my (let's be frank here... chaos). Yet for all that, I think a shiny workshop is only part of the solution.

Let's face it, even if you have a small toolbox with a handful of tools, it's not hard to mess up an entire workshop over time without strategic processes in place to manage the perennial problems with scrap, ensuring you have enough screws and other hardware, and the temptation of gear acquisition syndrome (a.k.a: "gas") which may technically fit in your space, but good luck actually using it safely.

So I came across this video on YouTube, and it got me thinking, that even though he's talking about starting a business (let's face it, if you have a capability, some of you may consider generating an additional income stream) he really outlines the benefits of incremental "tweaks" to the workshop and having stategies to ensure things don't go too far out of hand as time passes by.

If anything I think this is more relevant to people with smaller shops... so without further ado:

Have a look at this:

Building a Fitted Furniture Business - YouTube

Do you have any thoughts? I really like the vertical cart they use. I like the size and time based scrap management policy, and also some of the harsh realities of running a business if you're considering it.

What have you found helpful to manage your shop over time? What additional ideas do you have, and how would you factor that in during a fit out?

Just something you may want to consider as you build or revise your shed space. Always looking for ideas and improvements.

I hope this helps, and good luck with your workshop struggles (I know I need it, hehe).
Hamish.