5S Tip: Outline your tools in marker or use the foam insert to show which tool goes where.

This is good for when a tool is missing you know which tool is not there quickly.

When you take a tool to do a job, the key is to make sure to bring it back and put it away.

If you have employees and contractors on site, it is also beneficial to use a particular color on all of your company’s tools to easily identify them. That way you know exactly which ones belong to who - it causes less confusion. (as long as the different parties use different colors - have a discussion about this before the color is chosen!! Lol)

This may be a time consuming project to complete the task of outlining them, however, take one bite out of the cookie at a time. Just do one or two tools a day until the project is complete. If each person does this daily, the task can dwindle quickly.

Keep in mind that the tools may not all go into the toolbox or the location where the tools are kept. If it makes more sense for a tool to be by a particular piece of equipment, make it's home there and outline it where it works best for you. If there isn't a good location for the tool to be outlined by the piece of equipment, hang it from something and do what you can to show that or reveal it's home. Take a photo of it if need be and put the photo close by. Have a discussion, make the decision and figure out the best possible option for it.

Questions to Ponder:

What’s the best color to use?

How long would it take for this to be accomplished at your workplace?

Would this make things easier?

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