Re-doing a shop floor layout is an essential but difficult part of the lifespan of any sheet metal shop. Throughout my time at the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), I’ve heard from many members who have successfully updated their floors to be more efficient and work better for all. There is one common phrase from those who’ve had success updating their shop floor layout: proper planning and flexibility. Here are some tips to get you started.

This needs to be your first question. Why are you redesigning the layout? What are you trying to accomplish and what are you trying to eliminate? It’s important to balance the efficiency of the shop redesign with how effective it will be long term. Common reasons why include reducing bottlenecks and keeping up with stable growth.