SHOP OPERATIONS
» Whether planning to construct a new maintenance facility or remodel an existing one,
the first step in not the design. Rather, the process begins with a solid understanding of
needs, taking into account the range of considerations – including space, shop layout, bays,
maintenance and repair services, parts rooms, shop equipment, utility requirements, etc. That
comes from asking insightful questions and doing research so nothing is overlooked.
Photo courtesy of Maintenance Design Group
Maintenance Facility
A
well-designed vehicle maintenance facility doesn’t
begin with design. Rather, says Don Leidy, principal
of specialty consulting fi rm Maintenance
Design Group (MDG), it begins with good planning
early. Th at means taking into account a range of
considerations, including space, shop layout, bays,
maintenance and repair services, parts rooms,
shop equipment, utility requirements and vehicle
parking areas.
MDG (http://maintenancedesigngroup.com)
assists owners, architects and engineers with the
complex issues in the design of public works, transit
and other operations and maintenance facilities.
It is one of the leading fi rms in the U.S. in the
planning and design of transportation facilities.
Th e initial fi rst step in constructing a facility
22 Fleet Maintenance | JULY 2017
is to gain an understanding of the user’s
needs and building consensus, not initiating
the design, he says.
“Th e planning phase should be one of the most
important steps in the entire process, Leidy says.
“Understanding your needs is crucial in designing
a maintenance facility. Th is understanding begins
with asking questions and doing research.”
Leidy – who has more than 40 years of experience
in the industry and is recognized as one of
the leading experts in the planning and design
of operations and maintenance facilities – off ers
these useful suggestions that may help guide shop
and fl eet management through the oft en-confusing
process of building or remodeling a maintenance
facility.
Questions and Answers
Th e following questions need to be addressed,
MDG’s Leidy says.
Why is the facility being built or updated?
“Th e reasons for new construction or remodeling
are as varied as the individual maintenance
facilities,” he says. “Maintenance departments
commonly outgrow facilities that worked well
20 years ago, but are now outdated.
“Downsizing or increasing services, the passage
of new laws and regulations and the introduction
of alternative fuels can all necessitate change.”
What impact does planned fl eet growth have
on the facility? If a fl eet expects to grow by 20
percent in the next decade, the major impact to the
overall program is employee and agency vehicle
parking, says Leidy.
“As a rule, 50 percent of an entire site will be
used for parking and circulating ‘company’ vehicles,”
he says. “Twenty-fi ve percent of the site will
be used for employee parking. Th e remaining 25
percent will be required for the buildings. “Adding
10 large vehicles to a fl eet has a bigger impact
on the site than adding a repair bay or an offi ce.”
By David A. Kolman, Editor
Essential considerations to address
maximum functionality
SHOP MANAGEMENT
» Equipment selection, layout, utility requirements and finishes need
to be part of the initial considerations. After construction has begun,
additions and changes are expensive. For example, a compressed air
outlet included as an integral part of design may cost $200, but
could cost as much as $1,000 after construction has begun.
»A How-To Guide For