How To Optimise Space In Your Auto Repair Shop

If you own or manage an auto repair shop, the importance of a tidy, clean and well-organised workspace can’t be overstated. While much of your work might be unavoidably messy, maintaining order is important for safety, efficiency and even business prospects. After all, would you rather take your car to a clean and tidy garage, or one that looks dishevelled?

The average UK car owner spends some £273 each year on repairs and servicing, and having a reliable local garage can be a great comfort when something goes wrong. So to help you work efficiently and keep clients satisfied, read our tips on optimising your auto repair shop below.

Create An Efficient Floor Plan

There are lots of elements to consider in your garage floor plan. You need space for tool storage and vehicle loading bays, as well as a dedicated office space, waiting areas for clients and breakout rooms for colleagues. 

Other layout aspects to consider are overhead space, entry width and light fixtures, as you don’t want to impede your team’s mobility.

Use Mobile Tool Storages

Having secure wall storage makes sense – but walking back and forth to retrieve tools can slow your workforce down and put them at increased risk of injury. So make your storage mobile!

A rolling tool storage cabinet allows for quick and easy access to tools, for example, allowing workers to load up the items they use most often.

Invest In Movable Car Lifts

Car lifts take up a lot of space, so they can soon become a hindrance in a small garage when they’re not in use. But just like the point above, why not go mobile instead?

Movable car lifts are easy to roll to the side of your service area to free up space for other tasks.    

Consider Ceramic Tiles 

Grease and oil come with the territory in an auto repair shop, but that doesn’t make cleaning them up any more fun. In fact, it’s all too easy to make more mess than what you started with. 

Though expensive, investing in ceramic tiles or epoxy paint will make your life far easier if you currently have stone flooring. 

Optimise Vertical Space

Is floor space especially limited in your work environment? The answer could be to build up instead, as vertical solutions reduce your overall storage footprint. You could also reduce theft in the process, if this is an issue you face, by keeping valuable items out of sight.

If vertical storage is right for you, it makes sense to keep the tools you use less often higher up.  

The UK motor vehicle maintenance and repair industry is projected to grow by 4.6% in 2022. Follow these tips where possible to help your auto repair shop get in on the action.