A TECH BENCH KEEPS THE SERVICE AREA CLEAN AND ORGANIZED. JUST BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR BENCH CLEAN.
Photo courtesy of Nelson Industrial
It was in the 1990s when I first noticed a handful of dealers building windows between the service write-up area and the workshop. The idea was to be transparent with customers and to ensure the shop stayed clean.
It was a great development in many ways. Customers were comfortable knowing where their vehicle was, and it helped bring down the barriers that existed between the sales and service departments.
In fact, this trend has continued over the years, and has become more and more sophisticated.
Within the last five years, we’ve seen many dealers investing in workbench systems to enhance functionality, ergonomics and bring a sense of uniformity.
Some dealerships provide the bare minimum — a bench — and then leave it up to the technician to provide the tool box. The more modern approach is to provide the tool box, bench (work surface) and storage.
A tech bench integrates the tools, equipment and technology used by the technician. It provides adequate storage and considers ergonomics that contribute to productivity.
It also shows the technician is valued, which is good for morale. Good technicians are hard to attract and retain — providing good shop furniture helps.
Many progressive dealerships consider the service area integral to their image. Not so much in the past. Today, viewing areas showcase where the vehicle is being serviced. The technician bench is the most dominant piece of equipment seen in the service area.
Some bench manufactures promote a continuous bench system as one that spans the shop end-to-end.
This approach is a great way to hide service drops and other unsightly obstructions on the wall. Some systems have the ability to seamlessly maneuver around doors, windows and other obstructions — all in the spirit of projecting a clean image to customers.
Other systems come with angled cabinet tops to avoid a buildup of clutter, and promote tidy shops fit for peering customer eyes.
DESIGNING FLEXIBILITY INTO YOUR BENCH SYSTEMS
Servicing tools and equipment continues to evolve as vehicle technology becomes increasingly complex.
Consideration should be given to whether the tech bench system being selected has the ability, over time, to be re-configured and accept new modules to address changing servicing needs.
Modules should be specific to the work being performed – not too generic in nature or dated. For example, overhead cabinets were once popular for storing manuals. Today most material is stored electronically.
The system should also address how accessories and modules can be re-positioned to suit the technician’s work preferences.
MAINTENANCE
In order to preserve the look and function of tech benches, some basic maintenance is suggested. Mild surface soil on painted steel or stainless surfaces can be wiped down with a damp cloth.
For more aggressive stains mild detergents can be used, like those considered safe for bare hands. Avoid strong solvents like brake dust cleaners or abrasive materials when cleaning the surface.
It is not uncommon for hinges and similar hardware to require periodic adjustment. Damage to the system can occur if ignored too long.
A small investment in time periodically (often provided by the manufacturer) can ensure minor functional anomalies do not escalate into serious failures, if left unresolved. Most bench manufacturers provide maintenance guidelines.
Many dealerships use power washers to clean the floor. If not performed carefully, this activity can result in tiny particles being shot at the bench system. This could could damage the paint finish over time.
DURABILITY
Durability is important but “heavy-duty” may be overkill. Drawers are for storing tools, not heavy parts found in a modular drawer cabinet. The weight of tools and equipment used by a technician may total 100 lbs in a drawer.
CUSTOM HAS VALUE
Every dealership is different, so a “one size fits all” approach is not necessary when selecting a bench system. Some manufacturers provide custom solutions.
Depending on the shop’s configuration or tastes of the owner/operator, custom details are often needed to achieve a desired look and feel.
