Just realized how much better my shop's tool board got after we started using a simple color system.

About six months ago, our lead mechanic, Carl, got tired of people borrowing tools and not putting them back. He bought a bunch of cheap spray paint in four colors. We painted the outline of each tool on the board and then painted the tool handle the same color. So a red wrench outline gets the red-handled wrench. The change was slow at first, but now, if a blue socket is missing, you spot the empty blue outline instantly. It cut down our 'where's the 9/16' time by a ton. I used to waste maybe ten minutes a day just looking for stuff. Now I just glance at the board. Has anyone else tried something like this to keep their bay organized?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_dylan23d ago

Saw a video where a shop did this, and @karenc32 is right about the time saved.

the_harper18d ago

Ha, my tools just live in a pile.

karenc3223d ago

That "ten minutes a day" you saved is the real win. I bet Carl is quietly thrilled every time he sees a tool in its colored spot. It's the simple fixes that make a shop run right.