As a metal fabrication shop owner, it goes without saying that your shop is a major part of your life. Like with any relationship, the shop-owner rapport is reciprocal and how you treat your shop can have a big impact on output, and your business.

Here are 5 ways to show your shop love and boost productivity:

1. Keep it clean

A clean shop is a happy shop. Keeping a tidy and organized shop is an easy way to ensure your business is running efficiently. Having allocated spots for everything means you and your employees won’t lose time searching for tools and materials. While it doesn’t need to sparkle, a clean shop floor is also one of the most important aspects when it comes to taking care of your shop, not only for time-saving, but for safety.

2. The right tech for the job

Show your shop you care with the right IT. As the brains of your machine, the right CAD/CAM software can increase efficiency and productivity. Making sure your applications are current is also important. Outdated software can be costing you big time – especially if it doesn’t work or is only useful for one machine.

Just as the best gifts come in small packages, the most effective software for your whole shop may come wrapped up in one tidy package. Getting software packages, like products by AlmaCAM, that single-source programming of all your machines, means you get more for less. You also won’t have to waste time dealing with multiple suppliers or maintenance fees for various programs.

3. Put your machines first

Machines are your shop’s life force – you can’t do without them. Making sure you keep your machines in good health can mean a world of difference for your shop. That means:

a) Regular machine inspection
Low risk, high reward. You hope not to find any issues with your machines, but if you do, you want to catch them in time to fix them before they start costing you weeks of downtime.

b) Run a clean machine
Keeping your machines clean ensures they run properly and lets you catch any problems right away since you can see them easily. After all, keeping a clean shop and clean machines really just boils down to good housekeeping.

c) Preventative maintenance
Keeping a regular maintenance schedule can help you keep a healthy and happy shop for longer. Allocating time (just a couple of hours a week) for machine maintenance is highly valuable. It not only means avoiding breakdown of your fabrication machine and downtime, it means keeping costs down and productivity up.

4. Upgrade

If your shop is functioning with out-of-date machinery it might be costing you more. Outdated fabrication machines can mean costly repairs, breakdowns, slower processing speeds and a decline in quality – all problems that put a damper on productivity. Depending on your budget, purchasing quality used fabrication machines that are less than 10 years old may work for you, or you may want to go the route of new or refurbished machines. New technology is a gift everyone can enjoy – especially with the increased productivity it offers.

5. Invest in your employees

If the machines are your shop’s muscles, your employees are the heart. While they may not be able to do the really heavy lifting, they put the gears in motion – literally. Investing in your team means investing in your shop. Help them work smarter, not harder. Cross-training and ensuring everything they need is easily accessible means they’re more likely to get the job done properly and efficiently.

Plus, they’ll want to stick around. Employee retention is a big deal for any business – hiring and training new people can mean weeks of slowed productivity and can end up costing you much more. Employee appreciation in the form of proper tools and equipment, skills training, and a simple thank you doesn’t cost much but it can go a long way.

Showing a little extra love to your metal fabrication shop doesn’t have to mean spending more, but it can mean extra productivity and extra business. Showing you care is not about gifts, but thoughts and actions. Like any good relationship, you get back what you give – and that can mean great things for your shop and business.

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