2 replies to this topic

[Baohan88]

Hello everyone, I’m looking for a better way to control maintenance tools brought into our packaging area. Our production and packing are fully automated, with operators in a control room. However, machine breakdowns (at least twice per week), preventive maintenance, and calibration require frequent technician access.

 

Currently, we record all tools brought in, but this is time-consuming because tool bags contain many items. I’m considering defining a standard minimum tool kit, stored and pre-sanitized in the packaging area (we have a UV cabinet there). Any additional tools would require logging and cleaning per procedure.

 

Does anyone have experience defining a minimal tool list or improving this control process efficiently?

 

[Tony-C]

Hi Baohan88,

 

Locked tool boxes with authorised access, also have a list of contents that are checked on a regular basis.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[GMO]

Agree that locked dedicated tool boxes are a great idea and I've had them in both high risk and low risk environments. They can be difficult though to maintain contents and getting the team who need to check and not put additional items in is a bit of a pain.

 

I'd recommend if you can getting locked shadow boards of the tools you need with transparent doors. That way you can see at a glance if items are missing or there are additional items and you can maintain protection against unauthorised people taking the tools. You obviously need to involve the team on what tools are needed on that board so things aren't missed.

 

If you go for the tool box option instead, then do recognise compliance is often poor. So to help mitigate that I'd do two things. Firstly I'd get the engineers to photograph their compliance checks (harder to fake) and I'd also set a cross check, ideally from their supervisor, say, once a week, with consequences if people start bringing in things they shouldn't. I've found things in tool boxes SO MANY times. Everything from wooden handled tools to food, to the more basic but still risky items like loose metal nuts and bolts. If I'm auditing in a factory and I find an unlocked tool box, I'm looking inside it.