GRAEF-USA Inc.

DPW Northwest Garage Improvements

GRAEF assisted the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) to study the operations of its Northwest Garage Repair Shop. The Northwest Garage is used primarily for salt truck storage and repairs of the department’s truck fleet. The study focused on enhancing the efficiency, safety and security of the repair shop operation.

GRAEF surveyed the repair shop employees and managers to gather information about the repair shop operations. The survey focused on significant issues affecting the way that work was performed and seeking ways to improve the operations. GRAEF staff also observed repair shop employees at work to document the existing operations. Two private truck repair operations were also observed and evaluated to develop a benchmark of efficiency.

GRAEF developed four alternative facility configurations and construction cost estimates of all the alternatives for evaluation by the DPW. Key recommendations included repositioning the truck repair bays to take advantage of clear space overhead to allow full lift of the trucks to make working on the vehicles easier; modifications to the building to improve access and reduce jockeying vehicles inside the repair shop; and improved lighting, heating and ventilation to enhance the working environment.

Two alternative site configurations were also proposed to accommodate the construction of a new vehicle wash building, improve vehicle circulation around the building and reduce conflicts between employee vehicles and the department trucks.
Close More...

LOCATION Milwaukee, WI