AUTO
SHOP
LAYOUT
STANDARD LAYOUT/FLOOR
PLAN FOR AUTO SHOP
If asked to list the resources needed to run a
successful repair shop, a typical automotive
technician would likely answer with one word:
Me. Although the automotive technician is an
essential part of any automotive repair shop,
building and maintaining a successful repair
operation requires a far more complex mix of
resources and assets.
STANDARD LAYOUT/FLOOR
PLAN FOR AUTO SHOP
Physical facilities are required to
operate an automotive service business.
These facilities are the land and
buildings that provide a suitable
physical environment for conducting
business. The need for suitable facilities
is especially important for an
automotive service operation.
GENERAL FACILITIES GUIDELINES
A successful automotive repair facility must be large enough to house
the cars being repaired and should occupy a convenient, accessible,
and easy-to-find location. The ideal facility for an automotive shop
Is large enough to handle an average day’s business
Is visible and easily accessible to customers
Has adequate external space for customer parking and vehicle
storage
Has adequate space for repair support services (write-up area, locker
rooms, parts storage, business office, equipment storage)
Has adequate space for customer services (customer entrances, a
waiting area, and restrooms)
Provides a neat, clean, and professional customer friendly
environment
FACILITIES
NEEDS
FACILITIES NEEDS
REPAIR STALL
The physical space, each stall
typically measuring 12’ × 25’, that is
set aside to provide adequate room
to repair an automobile. ach stall
must provide room for the car and a
reasonable workspace surrounding it
so that the technician has sufficient
space to easily access all the car’s
systems
FACILITIES NEEDS
REPAIR STALL
FACILITIES NEEDS
STORAGE SPACE
The repair space must also include
adequate storage space to house the
equipment and tools typically shared
by the technicians (such as a brake
lathe, wheel balancer, valve grinder,
and other special tools), and it must
be easily accessible from any part of
the shop.
FACILITIES NEEDS
DRAINAGE
An important, but often overlooked,
point is to make sure the shop floor
provides adequate drainage. Two
common methods of drainage
include sloping the entire floor
toward a central floor drain trough,
or locating a variety of drains
throughout the repair space.
Incidental fluid leakage or spills
involving antifreeze, oil, and other
fluids further contribute to dirty,
slippery, and unsafe floors.
FACILITIES NEEDS
SUPPORT CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
Facilities required to conduct functions that
are not directly involved in the primary
activity of automotive repair.
Employee Facilities
The nature of the repair business makes the
employee facilities among the most essential
supplemental areas in a service shop. To keep
the vehicles that they work on, the shop, and
themselves clean and neat, technicians
require ready access areas where they can
clean up and change clothes when needed
FACILITIES NEEDS
SUPPORT CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
Parking Lots
The facility should include adequate parking
that is clearly marked and visible from the
street. The customer parking area should be
paved, well lit, and provide easy access to
the service facility. Providing convenient
parking sends a strong message to
customers that the shop is aware of their
importance and makes every effort to take
their needs seriously.
FACILITIES NEEDS
SUPPORT CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
Detailing/Wash Rack
Most shops include an area for
cleaning customer vehicles.
Such a service is highly
recommended for increasing
customer satisfaction. This area
might consist of a simple one-
stall space where a porter can
handwash vehicles before
returning them to customers.
FACILITIES NEEDS
SUPPORT CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
Administrative Area
Running a service facility involves
performing not only repair tasks but
also administrative tasks, such as work
distribution (dispatching) and the
handling of customer paperwork and
payment (cashiering). Employees in
small shops may perform both
administrative and repair duties,
whereas larger facilities may hire
separate personnel to handle these
tasks.
FACILITIES NEEDS
SUPPORT CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
Parts Sales and Storage Area
Keeping an inventory of commonly
used parts frees a shop from
depending on a third party to deliver
the parts needed for repairs, thus
making the shop more efficient and
productive.
SUPPORT
FACILITIES NEEDS
CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
An automotive service shop’s
reputation rests not only on the repair
service it provides but also on the
overall impression the shop leaves its
customers. A clean, organized, and
physically appealing facility can attract
additional business as surely as a dirty,
disorganized, and unappealing
business can drive customers away.
SUPPORT
FACILITIES NEEDS
CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
Customer Entrances and Write-Up
Area
As in every other retail purchase
transaction, the first impression that
the customer has when they enter your
service facility typically sets the tone of
the overall customer experience. The
shop should feature a clearly marked
and easily accessible entrance that
leads customers to a write-up area
where employees can attend to their
needs.
SUPPORT
FACILITIES NEEDS
CUSTOMER
SPACE
SPACE
Customer Waiting Area
Providing customers with a waiting
area is an important part of
demonstrating concern for their needs.
You can demonstrate your concern for
customers’ needs by making available
separate customer restroom facilities
and a customer waiting lounge that are
clean, well lit, and isolated from the
repair space.
SPACE
REQUIREME
NT
COMMON
MISTAKE OF
SHOP LAYOUT
COMMON MISTAKE OF SHOP LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility
5. Ignoring safety regulations
6. Inadequate Lighting and
ventilation
7. Poor accessibility
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility Not allocating enough space
5. Ignoring safety regulations for work bays, tool storage,
6. Inadequate Lighting and customer waiting areas and
ventilation offices can lead to
7. Poor accessibility congestion and inefficiency.
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility Failing to consider the flow of
5. Ignoring safety regulations vehicles and technicians
6. Inadequate Lighting and through the shop can lead to
ventilation bottlenecks and wasted
7. Poor accessibility time.
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility Placing the equipment and
5. Ignoring safety regulations workstation without
6. Inadequate Lighting and considering their optimal
ventilation placement can impede
7. Poor accessibility productivity and safety.
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility
Not designing the layout
5. Ignoring safety regulations
with future expansion or
6. Inadequate Lighting and
changes in mind can result
ventilation
in costly renovation later on.
7. Poor accessibility
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility
Neglecting to adhere to
5. Ignoring safety regulations
safety codes and regulations
6. Inadequate Lighting and
can lead to accidents and
ventilation
legal issues.
7. Poor accessibility
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility
Insufficient lighting and
5. Ignoring safety regulations
ventilation can affect both
6. Inadequate Lighting and
the safety and comfort of
ventilation
technicians and customer.
7. Poor accessibility
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility Failing to provide easy
5. Ignoring safety regulations access for vehicles,
6. Inadequate Lighting and customers, and deliveries
ventilation can hinder operations and
7. Poor accessibility customer satisfaction.
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility
Insufficient storage space for
5. Ignoring safety regulations
tools, parts and supplies can
6. Inadequate Lighting and
lead to clutter and difficulty
ventilation
finding necessary items.
7. Poor accessibility
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout
4. Lack of flexibility Not planning for
administrative tasks and
5. Ignoring safety regulations
customer service needs can
6. Inadequate Lighting and
create inefficiencies in
ventilation
managing appointments,
7. Poor accessibility billing and communications.
8. Neglecting storage needs
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
COMMON
MISTAKE OF SHOP
LAYOUT
1. Inadequate space allocation
2. Poor workflow planning
3. Inefficient layout Not considering the
4. Lack of flexibility integration of technology
such as diagnostics
5. Ignoring safety regulations
equipment, software
6. Inadequate Lighting and
systems, and digital
ventilation
communication tools can
7. Poor accessibility hinder efficiency and
8. Neglecting storage needs competitiveness.
9. Overlooking office requirements
10. Ignoring Technology Integration
