At first glance, redesigning an existing winery may appear simpler than planning a new one. The structure already exists, production is established, and operational knowledge is readily available. However, in practice, redesigning an operating winery is often more complex than starting from a blank slate. The challenges extend beyond physical constraints to include operational continuity, legacy decisions, and embedded inefficiencies.
Understanding this complexity highlights the importance of thoughtful planning, whether for new facilities or existing ones. It also underscores why early planning decisions carry such long-lasting consequences. NDOMEII’s winery planning and design consultancy is shaped by this awareness, recognising redesign as a distinct and demanding discipline.
Working Within Fixed Constraints
New winery projects benefit from freedom of layout and infrastructure placement. In contrast, redesign projects must work within fixed structural constraints. Walls, columns, floor levels, and service routes limit how spaces can be reconfigured.
These constraints require careful evaluation of what can be changed and what must remain. Each decision involves trade-offs between improvement and feasibility. This complexity demands a deep understanding of both design and operations.
Founded by Harshal Manish Taori, NDOMEII approaches redesign projects with a structured methodology that respects existing constraints while identifying realistic opportunities for improvement.
Maintaining Operational Continuity
One of the most significant challenges in redesigning an operating winery is maintaining continuity of production. Unlike new builds, redesigns cannot assume downtime without consequence. Production schedules, storage requirements, and seasonal activities must be accommodated throughout the redesign process.
This requirement limits the sequence and scope of changes that can be implemented. Planning must account for temporary workflows and phased modifications, adding layers of complexity to design decisions.
NDOMEII incorporates operational continuity into redesign planning, ensuring that improvements do not compromise ongoing production.
Uncovering Legacy Design Decisions
Existing wineries often reflect design decisions made under different assumptions or constraints. These legacy decisions shape current operations, sometimes in ways that are no longer optimal.
Redesign projects must first uncover and understand these decisions before proposing changes. This diagnostic phase is critical to avoid repeating or reinforcing inefficiencies.
NDOMEII treats legacy analysis as a foundational step in redesign, ensuring that new interventions address root causes rather than surface symptoms.
Embedded Workarounds and Informal Processes
Over time, operating wineries develop informal processes to compensate for design limitations. These workarounds become embedded in daily routines and may not be immediately visible to planners.
While they enable operations to function, they also mask underlying inefficiencies. Redesign efforts must identify and evaluate these workarounds to determine whether they should be formalised or eliminated.
NDOMEII recognises the importance of understanding actual operational behaviour, not just documented processes, when planning redesigns.
Balancing Improvement with Disruption
Every redesign introduces some level of disruption. The challenge lies in balancing the benefits of improvement against the cost of change. Even well-intentioned modifications can create temporary inefficiencies or learning curves.
Planning must therefore prioritise interventions that deliver meaningful long-term value. Incremental improvements may be preferable to comprehensive overhauls in certain contexts.
NDOMEII’s consultancy approach evaluates redesign proposals through the lens of operational impact, ensuring that benefits justify disruption.
Infrastructure Limitations and Integration
Infrastructure systems such as utilities, drainage, and access points are often the least flexible elements of an existing facility. Redesigning around these systems requires careful integration rather than replacement.
Poorly planned integration can introduce new inefficiencies or maintenance challenges. Understanding infrastructure limitations is therefore essential to effective redesign.
NDOMEII integrates infrastructure assessment into redesign planning, aligning improvements with existing systems wherever feasible.
Managing Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives
Operating wineries involve stakeholders with established roles and preferences. Redesign projects must navigate these perspectives, balancing operational needs with practical considerations.
Aligning stakeholders around redesign objectives requires clear communication and evidence-based reasoning. Design decisions must be justified not only technically but operationally.
NDOMEII emphasises clarity and alignment in stakeholder engagement, ensuring that redesign efforts reflect shared understanding and purpose.
Compliance in Established Facilities
Regulatory requirements evolve over time, and existing wineries may reflect outdated compliance standards. Redesign projects often trigger the need to reassess compliance across the facility.
Integrating updated requirements into existing structures can be challenging, particularly when space is limited. Early identification of compliance implications is critical to avoid surprises.
NDOMEII incorporates compliance review into redesign planning, ensuring that improvements align with current standards without unnecessary compromise.
Incremental Versus Comprehensive Redesign
Redesign projects must decide between incremental changes and comprehensive reconfiguration. Incremental redesign allows gradual improvement but may limit overall impact. Comprehensive redesign offers greater potential benefit but carries higher risk.
The appropriate approach depends on operational priorities, constraints, and long-term goals. This decision must be made deliberately rather than by default.
NDOMEII evaluates redesign scope strategically, ensuring that the chosen approach aligns with operational intent.
Learning from Existing Operations
One advantage of redesign is access to real operational data. Existing workflows, bottlenecks, and performance patterns provide valuable insight into what works and what does not.
This information allows redesign to be grounded in experience rather than assumption. However, interpreting this data requires objectivity and structure.
NDOMEII leverages operational insight to inform redesign decisions, translating experience into improved design outcomes.
Redesign as an Opportunity for Alignment
Despite its complexity, redesign offers a unique opportunity to realign design with current operational reality. It allows wineries to address accumulated inefficiencies and adapt to evolved goals.
When approached thoughtfully, redesign can restore coherence between space, process, and intent.
NDOMEII views redesign not as a corrective exercise alone, but as a strategic opportunity to enhance long-term performance.
Conclusion: Respecting Complexity in Redesign
Redesigning an operating winery is inherently complex, requiring careful balance between improvement and continuity. Constraints, legacy decisions, and embedded behaviours all shape the challenge.
NDOMEII, founded by Harshal Manish Taori, brings structured thinking to this complexity—ensuring that redesign efforts are practical, informed, and aligned with long-term operational success.
NDOMEII – Designing Wineries with Purpose and Precision.
