Basic rules of a key shop

[pfraites]

I recently got to locksmith, because in the company that I work for (steel frames and doors) wanted to do the master keying in house. We already got some equipment to work with, but I'm formulating some basic rules for the workshop but I need some help from experienced people.

Some of the basic rules I got so far are:
[list=]Maintain area clean.
Only authorized people in the shop.
Have the paper work corresponding to the job and authorized
[/list]
Any other basic mandatory rules that I might need?

[maintenanceguy]

The first things you will need are not rules.

Work with your bosses to come up with rules as you need them to solve problems. Rules are to solve problems, not to exist for their own sake.

If you're being trusted with new responsibilities, I'd avoid rule making as your first project. Nobody wants the new guy telling them how to behave.

This experience comes from 20+ years working in and supervising people in many different trades.

[Dpruente]

he's right. rules are to be made to fix things, and if it's not broken, don't fix it. If you're the only guy in the locksmithing shop, you definitely shouldn't need rules, and even if not, If you follow basic ethical codes of conduct for the trade, you really shouldn't run into any problems. Maintaining a clean work area is common sense, and should already be ingrained into everyone's mind. Everybody knows you can't do much with a dirty, disorganized space. Unauthorized personnel will probably have no idea exactly what they're looking at when they do walk through, and when they ask, just go through the most difficult explanation possible with them. Either you'll bore them out of the shop or find another locksmithing buddy. Finally, paperwork is another common sense thing. I can speak for anyone else, but I find that having a paper trail to cover my behind helps me sleep better at night (I do lockouts)