Need General Information

[crossland]

I am setting up a fabrication shop with 2 welders, 2 welders helpers a blue print reader and a control person, I need to know where the two welders need to be located in my shop and the helpers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Rojodiablo]

I am setting up a fabrication shop with 2 welders, 2 welders helpers a blue print reader and a control person, I need to know where the two welders need to be located in my shop and the helpers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Before you have any of us give you input, you need to define your situation much, much more clearly. Is this one off fabrication? R&D? Assembly line? High volume production? How big is the shop space? Shipping/ service bays? Street access, materials storage? What equipment will you have, what will you use? Intended/ expected growth, new machines to be added?

In general, keep the welders at their machines. Keep the fire extinguishers close by!!:blob2::laugh: Other than that, you would be better off looking at similar operations near you, and maybe take a bunch of pictures and drawings to help get your stuff figured out. Wish you luck. Paul.

[specter]

As a cnc shop owner I can honestly say what Rojodiadlo told you is very true! An organized shop can save you alot of time of money as well as preventing workers from tripping over each other.

Very important is having any electrical wiring within area of equipmment shielded from welding splatter. And making sure Good commercial grade fire extinguishers are within reach of each workers area. Both are neccessary for shop and workers safety, meeting Osha requirements, and keeping your shops insurance costs reasonable. Also protective gear for the workers is a must have.

Add-on Before rushing into considering set up of a new fabrication shop you need consider if there a need for it in your area. If this is going to be a commercial shop your best bet would be to stop by a shop that would do work similiar to what your thinking of. Pick someone outside the geographical area where your considering putting this shop. I know I wouldn't be looking to provide help to some startup competition in my area if it would take away from my business. And you'll need to consider business plan, hiring concerns, advertising costs, startupcosts, permiting and building, employee safety, setup of supply sources, and the list goes on & ON. One of biggest things is having enough money set aside for 6 months or more while waiting to establish your business.

I could go on forever

[Fat Bastard]

I am setting up a fabrication shop with 2 welders, 2 welders helpers a blue print reader and a control person, I need to know where the two welders need to be located in my shop and the helpers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well this is simple the welders always go on the left (unless they are left handed then you revers it, unless you have one lefty and one righty).

Helpers should be behind and to the week side of the welder. The welding machines should be outside so they stay cool.

You should also look at how the material flows through the shop the more you handle the material the more you get to charge for the work.

Oh and the blueprint reader needs an office across town, so that this person has as little contact with the welders as possible.

[Stack of Dimes]

Welders near the metal, workers under bench (near welder, but not in the path of the sparks).

Blueprint reader out getting coffee always, and never answer his phone when needed.

Welding machines nearest the door so they can be easily stolen.

Control person always in a meeting somewhere for no reason what so ever. And make sure to over pay him.

[lotechman]

A quick and effective way is to do a scale floor plan with scaled cardboard pieces for all your equipment. You want some sort of flow so the material comes in one end and goes out the other or in around and out.
If you have worked in a few shops then try to remember the best and worst features of each... doesn't hurt to spy out other shops to see their layout.