Using a tool crib to house tools and equipment such as a power tools or other items, is an easy way to manage your company’s equipment needs. Whether you call it a tool crib, tool workshop or rigging loft, maintaining a designated location to store and maintain all your company’s tools and equipment is convenient, cost effective and saves you time.
Before we talk more about how to manage your tool crib the easy way, let’s begin with exploring a bit more about what a tool crib is and why you might need to get one if you don’t have one in place already.
What is a tool crib?
Tool cribs are places where tools and equipment are kept. This can be a separate container on a job site or an enclosed or designated area of a larger warehouse or workshop. Tool cribs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are intermodal containers (commonly known as “shipping containers”) while others are fenced in areas of workshops or rooms in a warehouse.
A tool crib can be managed remotely or staffed with a tool crib attendant who ensures items checked out make their way back to the tool crib in a timely manner. A tool crib attendant also ensures tools and equipment are serviced and ready for usage when need.
Some tool cribs require key or card access, and some do not. The most important thing is that a tool crib has enough space for your equipment and is controlled with limited access.
Do you need a tool crib?
So how do you know if you need a tool crib? Simple. If you have tools and equipment, or have more than one person using said gear, you might benefit from having a tool crib. As they come in all shapes and sizes, a well-organized tool crib can benefit even a small business.
Step 1: Use reports to maintain insight into everyday tasks
Re-purchasing equipment you already own is expensive and unnecessary. Using a digital system to track your equipment means you have reports to help you better plan everyday tasks, so you know in advance what tools, equipment and supplies you really need.
Step 2: Understand who has physical possession of your tools and equipment
Do you know who was the last person to use your equipment? Or who currently has physical possession of your gear? Manually following up who has which piece of equipment can be time consuming. Find a digital system to help you instantly keep track of who has possession of your equipment.
Step 3: Keep accurate records of the tools you have
Using pen and paper instead of a digital solution to keep track of the status of the equipment and supplies in your tool crib is outdated. Make keeping accurate records easy on yourself by going digital and using a digital system to keep track. Storing serial numbers and other useful details makes it easier to report them as lost or stolen if needed.
Step 4: Spend less time looking for missing or damaged tools
Using a barcode-based inventory or asset tracking system means you know exactly what is checked in, or not. And knowing this, means you can stop wasting time searching for gear. It also means you can be prepared to deal with missing or damaged tools between uses – before the next time you need to use your items.
For more information about managing your tool crib the easy way, read more about Onix Tool Store or contact us for more information.
