“The right tool for the right job in the right way makes all the difference” according to a famous adage. To be able to use the appropriate tool, it is critical that it should be found quickly and efficiently. Whether an auto racing business or manufacturing, every business depends on being able to procure, maintain tracking, and use the tools efficiently.
Efficient tool crib management is necessary for a healthy bottom line for businesses as well as to save lives in many instances. For firefighters and emergency medical response teams, finding the right tools at the right time in an emergency is critical to saving lives.
Here are five tips for creating an effective tool crib:
Dedicated team and administrator: If the business is a large scale one, ensuring there is a dedicated team and a tool crib administrator will help in better management of the tool crib.
Ensure security: The tool crib needs to be in a designated and secure location. Authorized personnel apart from the tool crib team and the administrator need to have exclusive access to the tool crib. If the tools are stored in an area which is easily accessible to everyone, the chances of theft, misplacement or misuse are very high. This can affect the financial health of the business, with the need to purchase expensive tools repeatedly.
Organize the tools: Managing a wide selection of tools can be streamlined by organizing them. Sorting and indexing the tools can be done on the basis of numerics, alphabets, function, department, size or color.
Create a database: While earlier practices involved using excel sheets or manual entries to store all kinds of information, it is now impractical and outdated. GoCodes offers cloud storage of endless amounts of information that can easily be entered by just scanning QR labels on each tool. Assigning unique QR codes to each tool and printing them is easy and convenient on the GoCodes platform. The tool crib administrator or the team can download the QR scanning app for free on their smartphone and just wave the phone on the QR label. The database is electronically stored and can be updated as and when a new tool is added. With QR codes, you can track your tools no matter where they are.
Perform audits: Regular audits ensure all the tools are available and are in the right location. The audits also help see if any tool needs maintenance, repair or replacement which is important to avoid serious workplace injuries due to tool breakdown. With GoCodes QR codes and cloud software, it is easy to not only carry out asset tracking but perform regular audits in quick time as well. Checking each equipment against the data updated on the cloud software is easy, fast, and saves labor.
