How to Organize Workshop Tools

A messy workshop is not only highly impractical for everybody using it but comes with a bunch of health and safety concerns which can cause bigger problems later down the line. For employees who spend every day working in a workshop, disorganization can be a huge factor in job dissatisfaction and leave productivity at an all-time low as people struggle to find the right tools or have to battle to find sufficient workspace. 

Effectively organizing a workshop will look different for every business, depending on factors like the size of the workshop and the type of equipment needed. Although the initial organization process may seem time-consuming and mundane, the return will bring significant improvements for all so operations can continue to their full potential.

Importance Of A Tidy Workshop

As well as helping a business become more productive and efficient, an organized workshop creates a healthier environment for employees to work in as they can wave goodbye to trip hazards, discarded litter, trailing wires, and various other safety risks. By creating and maintaining a clean workplace, a business owner can expect to see increases in professionalism and overall happiness of their employees through the added benefits:

• Improved employee well-being as the workplace offers a clean and healthy environment where they do not have to spend their days in cluttered, dirty, or hazardous workshops. This can also result in fewer sick days being taken by employees if they are spending their days in better conditions.
• A boost in staff productivity as the clean workspace can subconsciously encourage motivation as their surroundings are designed with their duties in mind. An efficient workspace also tends to boost the morale of employees which can improve staff turnover, leaving workers feeling valued and ready to fulfill their roles.
• Extra cost savings within the organization can be put towards other areas of the business and invested back into staff. One good organization is achieved in the workshop, ongoing cleaning and refurbishment costs are lowered and staff productivity is increased.
• The reputation of the business can be enhanced as first impressions are improved following the clean and tidy workspaces. Being especially important for workshops that can be seen by visitors, customers, and stakeholders, the condition of the business grounds reflects the trustworthiness and professionalism of the company itself.

How To Organize A Workshop Effectively

Make use of cabinet edges

The sides of large cabinets offer a huge amount of blank space which is just waiting to be utilized. You can buy pegboards at a low cost and these can be attached to the sides of the cabinets, allowing you to easily hang up those bits and bobs which are lying around the workshop. Especially for smaller spaces where space is a luxury, this option is great for storing things like hoses, tools, and brushes which do not add too much width to the cabinet.

Store loose items in hanging bins

When employees are looking for fiddly items like screws, nails, and small parts, it can take much longer than it should in unorganized workshops. To resolve this issue and keep things tidy, buy a range of small-medium size storage containers or bins which can be either lined up on a shelf or attached to the wall to maximize space even further. This technique means time can be saved from rummaging through larger boxes and keeping count of stock is much more efficient than ever before.

Put up some shelving

Although it may seem like an obvious solution, it is something that many business owners put on the back burner and never get around to doing. If wall space is not aplenty, corner shelving is a great option for squeezing in some more storage space without cluttering the main work areas. If on a budget, shelving is the perfect organization solution as it can even be made with spare planks of wood that are laying around and can be transformed into storage space for spare parts, paint tins, and those bits and bobs which need to be within arms reach.

Screw in some hooks

Similar to adding hanging bins or shelving onto pegboards or cabinet edges, a simple hook may come in more useful than you would think. Being super cheap to implement and taking up almost no space, they can be placed as and where you need them and act as a quick-grab solution. Hooks are practical for items such as protective clothing, brushes, dustpans for cleaning, or goggles and masks.

Clear the workbenches

As much as we try to keep our workspace free, they quickly accumulate our most used tools or debris from operations as the days pass by. This can make it difficult to concentrate as the area around them becomes cluttered, lowering productivity as employees cannot carry out their roles efficiently. Implement a clear workbench policy, put up signs, or allocate time at the end of the day for tidying up the benches, ensuring everything is put back where it belongs.

Regular recharging

For businesses that use a large number of power tools or battery packs, there is nothing more frustrating than finding that all of the equipment is flat when you need to use it. To overcome this, allocating a corner of the workshop as a charging station will mean all machinery can be put back on charge when not in use and is easy to find when needed. Of course, health and safety are paramount here and it is important to avoid overfilling outlets or having loose wires trailing around.