Resources
Photo Protocol
A photo protocol for South African workshop sites so machine space, access, power points, and production flow are clearly documented.
How a photo protocol avoids missed site details
The Photo Protocol explains how to document a workshop clearly before installation planning starts. It covers machine space, access routes, power points, and production flow so nothing important is missed.
Photograph the workshop as it stands before delivery planning begins. Include the intended machine position, the route from gate to bay, nearby power points, and any extraction or air lines in the area. On South African sites, kerbs, narrow roller doors, shared loading yards, and uneven concrete can affect how a router, mill, or plasma unit is moved into place.
Take wide shots first, then move closer for detail photos. A useful set shows wall clearance, operator space, cable routes, DB boards, and obstacles such as racks, benches, or stock packs. Clear images help us read the site properly without guessing distances from a single close-up.
Photos that matter before delivery
A complete photo pack gives installation planning something solid to work from. It should show where sheets or plate will be loaded, how finished parts leave the machine, and whether a forklift, pallet jack, or crane shares the same space. That information affects machine orientation and day-to-day production flow.
Link the image set to the machine record and keep the file names simple. Add the customer name, machine type, and where each picture was taken, then file the set with the key service points marked. Include any restrictions such as low beams, steep ramps, or limited parking for offloading.
- Wide bay view from machine corner
- Power point and DB board close-up
- Access door width clearly photographed
Workshop details often missed on site
Do not stop at the machine footprint alone. Photos should also show the approach road, loading entrance, internal turning space, and any step-ups between the truck and final position. In older industrial units, columns, low lintels, and packed storage areas regularly change how equipment must be brought in.
Power and environment both need visual proof. Capture socket types, isolators, cable trays, extraction points, compressor position, and the surrounding dust or fume conditions. Coastal sites may need extra attention on corrosion-prone areas, while inland workshops often need better dust control around cabinets and rails.
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How to label the image set
Ask for clear photos of power points, floor area, access doors, extraction layout, and the machine position before delivery. Use a straightforward subject line that names the customer and machine type.
Name each photo by area rather than by phone number or date alone. Labels such as entrance door, machine location, power wall, extraction run, and stock loading side make the set easier to review later. Keep all images together with the enquiry so the workshop layout stays tied to the correct machine plan.