MRO Today - Take the test

Take the test

by Paul V. Arnold

Are you a candidate for a tool room or storage area makeover? Take this test to find out.

1) Stand in your tool room and look at your watch. When you are ready, you’ll have 30 seconds to find a crimping tool and pliers. Go.

If you accomplished the task, give yourself 10 points. If you found them, but it took 60 seconds, give yourself 5. If you have no idea where those tools are, subtract 5.

2) Without looking, do you know how many reamers you have in your portable work station? Check and see if you’re right. If you’re correct, give yourself 10 points. If your guess was within three, you get 5. If you don’t know where your reamers are, subtract 5 points.

3) Does every tool, part and piece of equipment in your area have a use? This will take some time. If you answered yes, give yourself 10 points. If you found one item that either has no use at your plant or you have no idea what it is, give yourself 5. If you found more than 10 such items, subtract 5 points.

4) If you were on vacation or called in sick and somebody needed to borrow a straight-slotted screwdriver and a washer from your area, would that person be able to find those items? If your answer is yes, give yourself 10 points. If your answer is yes, but with a little looking, give yourself 5. If you would have to be paged at home or on the beach, subtract 5.

5) Suppose you receive a memo saying your tool room or storage area will shrink in size 33 percent. If after a little thinking you felt it would be possible to meet that edict, give yourself 10 points.
If it’s possible only after a lot of figuring and diagramming, give yourself 5. If you fly off the deep end and start barricading yourself in your area, subtract 5.

OK, add up your points.

If you accumulated 50 points, ask your boss for a raise. If you accumulated between 40 and 50 points, your area is in good shape. If you accumulated 20 to 40, your area is efficient but it could use some sprucing. If you scored less than 20, your area needs a serious makeover. If you scored less than zero, how do you even get work done?

This article appeared in the August/September 1998 issue of MRO Today magazine. Copyright, 1998.