Taking over the bike shop...

[Andy in Germany]

The shop looks amazing. Someone obviously works hard at those displays!

That's our managers influence; she doesn't do all the displays but she's very strict on standards. This shop is one of the two highest earners in the company, and I really want the bike part to be of the same standard.

 

[Big John]

I'm green with envy. I was at our bike charity doing my one-day-a-week volunteer work today and, like I've said before, it's like working in a scrap yard. If I ever arrived at work and found the workshop looking like yours I'd die of shock. However, I love fettling bikes and I keep going back for more. I just wish it looked more like your place, Andy 👍

Well done mate. You're doing a great job

 

[Gillstay]

Imagine the delivery costs!

An worse still the duty to pay.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I've been getting the workshop ready for the inspection tomorrow; still a long way to go but it's a very different workshop to the one I started in, and had to clear enough space to repair the bike stand and find some tools in an abandoned toolbox before I could even start work...

The small bike store is now divided into three sections, left to right: customers bikes; bikes to be repaired or under repair; bikes for final check before sale. This should make things more transparent when a colleague has to cover my department. The rear rack is still a law unto itself but was improved today when I removed a Bike Shaped Object that was haunting the rack and scrapped it.

I didn't get all the new labels made, which I expected, I didn't expect it to be because I broke the laminating machine.

Some of those boxes are rather heavy but I've left them deliberately in the hope we get told we need to add shelving.

On the other hand, we've brought the Wheel Breeding Colony under some form of control:

Still a lot further to go though.I'll be reducing those inner tubes for one...

In theory it's now largely safe if not very pretty. Let's see what the inspector says.

 

[Oldhippy]

You are doing a fantastic job there.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Well done, Andy!
I particularly like the first photo.

it's a very different workshop to the one I started in,

Pat on the back time!

I've left them deliberately in the hope we get told we need to add shelving.

Playing the game!
Bravo!

Let's see what the inspector says.

If this is your first inspection try not to be intimidated.
Don't be afraid to say that it's your first, either.
Take notes if you want and don't be afraid to ask "why?"
If they're not happy with something try to find out exactly what is needed to satisfy them.
I have always found the "sincere & honest" approach works best.

Best of luck tomorrow.

Well done, again.

 

[classic33]

A few things noted in the second picture.
Where does the door on the left go.
There's a wire hanging loose over the same door.
What's the electronic keypad for.

The reason for the above, the bike nearest the wall/door seems to be blocking the door. If you can walk through the door from the other side, do you have to sidestep the bikes to get in.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I just came across this image from August, taken in the bike store (bear in mind some other staff members were telling me that I shouldn't "overdo" the organising because we needed to build bikes):

And just because it makes me happy, here is the current state:

Notice the cupboards in the distance, which are the sewing departments store room: ALL the cardboard boxes have vanished. I'm not the only one who was tidying up...

 

[classic33]

With regards the inner tubes, what about summat like this Inner Tube Museum

 

[Andy in Germany]

A few things noted in the second picture.
Where does the door on the left go.
There's a wire hanging loose over the same door.
What's the electronic keypad for.

The reason for the above, the bike nearest the wall/door seems to be blocking the door. If you can walk through the door from the other side, do you have to sidestep the bikes to get in.

The door is a fire exit (that would be illegal in the UK but that's another story). I don't think the bike there is blocking it; I certainly haven't noticed anything, but I'll look tomorrow. Maybe we'll be told to move the bikes back by 30 cm or so to avoid people's clothes snagging; that won't be a problem.

The wires and keypad are part of the IT network and the IT manager came and checked everything before he went on holiday and said he thinks it is okay; we shall see.

 

[DRM]

One thing that used to be done when I was doing refurbishment work of used fork trucks, was the machine was inspected, parts ordered that went in a box, then when you were given the job, you got the truck, box of bits and got on with it, there would be a tag on the truck with a job number, same number on the parts box and a corresponding job sheet, would a similar system be worth implementing so that any needed parts were in the box, making it a bit more efficient and the job sheet goes to the bikes new owner on purchase, a copy stays with you for warranty purposes, however it may be no good if you are wanting the clients to be able fault find and make decisions to repair or replace an item, but just a thought that may be helpful

 

[Andy in Germany]

This is it: the day we've been preparing for for weeks. I had a couple of last minute jobs to do but I was pretty much ready.

Then I realised that for some lunatic reason I'd put on my normal boots instead of my H&S Safety boots this morning. Quite how I managed that, and today of all days I don't know, probably distracted by squirrels. Fortunately I live six minutes away by bike, so I told the manager I needed to "collect something", leapt on my bike and cycled back to apartment. My boots fortunately live outside to avoid danger of asphyxiation, so swapping them took a few seconds. Back on bike, back to work with the correct footwear.

As I come into the workshop my colleague approaches to say the inspection is postponed for at least a month. The inspector is off sick.

 

[classic33]

This is it: the day we've been preparing for for weeks. I had a couple of last minute jobs to do but I was pretty much ready.

Then I realised that for some lunatic reason I'd put on my normal boots instead of my H&S Safety boots this morning. Quite how I managed that, and today of all days I don't know, probably distracted by squirrels. Fortunately I live six minutes away by bike, so I told the manager I needed to "collect something", leapt on my bike and cycled back to apartment. My boots fortunately live outside to avoid danger of asphyxiation, so swapping them took a few seconds. Back on bike, back to work with the correct footwear.

As I come into the workshop my colleague approaches to say the inspection is postponed for at least a month. The inspector is off sick.

Did they get wind of your boots?

 

[classic33]

I just came across this image from August, taken in the bike store (bear in mind some other staff members were telling me that I shouldn't "overdo" the organising because we needed to build bikes):

View attachment 664099

And just because it makes me happy, here is the current state:

View attachment 664100

Notice the cupboards in the distance, which are the sewing departments store room: ALL the cardboard boxes have vanished. I'm not the only one who was tidying up...

Where'd the unicycles go?

 

[Andy in Germany]

Where'd the unicycles go?

Added to the "clutter that has been here for ages honest" in the small storeroom so it isn't too obvious that there was a repair stand until yesterday.