Whether you’re sourcing for a small facility for your startup business or planning a major expansion at a factory, industrial workbenches and other furniture could form the “backbone” of your facility layout. If they are to break down or get in the way of efficient operations you would face safety, timing and productivity hurdles that might force you to rearrange the entire facility. At RDM, we can help you find the right industrial furniture solutions or you can take stock of your own needs. Here’s what you should consider:
Safety: Safety comes first – naturally! Get acquainted with all laws, ordinances and regulations related to your industry and any materials or equipment you plan on working with, even if it’s a minor part of your business. Review fire code and city zoning. Many people plan their shops without thinking of proper fire exist access, for example, or assume they’ll be allowed to renovate for their shop even though it’s against local codes. All of these affect where you can place workstations and industrial furniture.
Budget: Set a loose budget for furnishings, but be prepared to change it to accommodate your real needs – don’t skimp on industrial workbenches, chairs, flow racks and so on. Cutting corners can greatly add expense to everything you do in the form of slower production, delays and even accidents. Nevertheless, let us know your budget range and needs, and we’ll do our best to provide you with solution(s) to accommodate them.
People: How many workers do you plan on having on site at one time? Do workers have dedicated individual stations or are they “hot desking?” The answers will affect how much space you need for each workstation. Don’t forget that for maximum productivity you need these to be comfortable areas, so invest in ergonomic chairs and accessories.
Space: How much room do you have once you take fire codes and other necessary clearance into account? Taking accurate measurements of the area to be furnished, including height, is one of the basic constructive steps you can take to make furnishing your shop easier.
Weight, shipping systems, ventilation – these are all additional factors that will influence your choice of industrial furniture. Some of these choices reflect universal workplace needs, while others are the special concerns of particular industries. Educate yourself and contact RDM to see how we can give your facility the “Backbone” it needs to succeed.