One of the S’s in 5S stands for Set in Order.

This refers to organizing things in a set place so that they can be easily obtained and quickly returned. This is an important aspect of all workplaces because it cuts back on wasted time and extra training. It also makes a workplace safer, because it cuts down on clutter. As a tip of the cap to the innovation behind 5S, here’s a list of 5 innovative ways organization can be achieved at your workplace, as it relates to power tools.

 

Organize your tools with pegboards.

 

The idea of using peg boards to organize tools has been around for quite some time, but that doesn’t make it any less significant. A garage is the first place many people envision a peg board being used. This might be because space is limited and tools are many. The upright placement saves space and the easy relocation of hooks makes it adaptable. Besides that, pegboards are easy to install.

 

All the benefits of having a peg board in the garage are also benefits to having one at work. Placing power tools on a peg board would free up room for better employee movement or more equipment. Adaptability is also significant because workplaces change rapidly. You can also add labels above hooks to let employees know exactly what belongs where.

 

 

Keep all your tools in place with shadow boards.

 

This takes the peg board idea and totally revamps it. These are called shadow boards because a “shadow” of the tool is located where that tool belongs. That means all the benefits of having an upright organizer are there, plus the added bonus of being able to see what’s missing or where something belongs. The fight against clutter and disorganization just got easier.

Plant maintenance is much easier to accomplish if your tools are always where they belong when not in use. Power tool maintenance also includes keeping your tools safe. Shadow boards help in both ways. They keep your tools out of harm’s way while broadcasting where they belong.

 

Here’s just the place to have one customized to your specifications.

 

Remember what's what with color-coding.

 

It’s difficult to keep all power tools together when you need to move them around. With multiple carrying cases, time can be spent searching for the right case with the right tool. Also, transporting them from place to place can cause unnecessary damage from getting banged around. Both of these problems can be resolved with color-coded carrying cases. Color-coded organizers can help alleviate time wasted and keep tools protected.

Workers will become accustomed to finding a specific power tool and its accessories in a specific colored case. Finding the right tool will happen faster and placing it back where it belongs will become easier. It’s a win-win for anyone looking to better organize their fluctuating workplace.

 

Keep small tool parts together with foam tool organizers.

 

Another way to keep tools safe and easily accessible during transport—or even when staying put—is by using foam organizers. They work like shadow boards, but for drawers and toolboxes—and they keep tools protected if being moved around. Tool-shaped spaces in the foam make it easy to understand which tool goes where. And the contrasting color behind tools makes it obvious that something is missing, making it more likely tools get put back in to place.

Concerning power tools, foam organizers are a convenient way to keep track of bits and adapters. These small pieces are easy to forget about, but very important to get a job done. Having a special place for each piece makes misplacement less likely. This is a great way to maintain power tools.

 

 

Understand tool management.

 

How to organize tools doesn’t just mean keeping items in a certain place; it also includes making sure everything is in order—including tool management. This used to be a tedious task, but now technology is lending a helping hand.

One example of this is ONE-KEY™ from Milwaukee®—a simple way to keep track of virtually everything about smart power tools. The ONE-KEY app syncs with Milwaukee tools that have been ONE-KEY integrated. From your Smartphone, you can disable a tool, track its location, customize its settings, and even view its usage and performance data. This is a great tool for your tools, keeping the guesswork out of their operation—making their usage safer and more productive.

 

Stay Organized.

 

No matter how you decide to keep your tools organized, the most import factor is sticking with your plan. With organization being so instrumental to work being done efficiently and safely, having a clear-cut and ordered plan should be essential. So in essence, the way to get employees organized is to be organized yourself.