When it comes to vehicle maintenance and repair, technicians must have the knowledge to do the work, along with the appropriate tools, tool storage solutions and shop equipment. This enables technicians to can work quickly, efficiently and safely. The result: greater technician and shop productivity.
Manufacturers design tools and shop equipment for specific applications, and they should be used only for those intended purposes. Meanwhile, vehicles are becoming increasingly complex and manufacturers are developing parts that require application-specific tools for removal or replacement.
When a technician or shop doesn’t have the necessary tools and/or equipment, and the wrong one is used instead, vehicle maintenance and repair can be frustrating, as well as inefficient. The result: lost output from slower work and more errors.
Furthermore, using the wrong tool and/or piece of equipment increases the risk associated with its use. It can make the work dangerous for technicians and could result in an injury. Not only that, the tool or equipment and/or the vehicle or component being worked upon could be damaged.
This increases the risk for accidents. Accidents cause downtime. That impacts job and shop throughput.
INVESTMENT
Technicians and shops alike invest a considerable amount of time and money in selecting, acquiring and setting up tools, tool storage and shop equipment. The focus should always be on obtaining superior, well-designed, high-quality items. This will make the technician’s job safer and easier, improve the quality of the work being done and help extend the life of the tool, tool storage solution and shop equipment.
The greatest return on any investment in these comes from:
- Keeping them properly secured, organized and stored.
- Regular cleaning, inspection, maintenance and repair.
A best practice is to make it a habit to clean tools and equipment after each use and before they are returned storage. Use this as an opportunity to look for any damage or defects.
Taking these measures helps keep tools and shop equipment in optimum, safe and reliable working condition for as long as possible.
Any defects and/or safety problems found need to be corrected to keep them from becoming a serious hazard. A defective tool or piece of equipment should never be used. Rather, it should immediately be replaced or be taken out of service until it has been repaired.
ORGANIZATION
An orderly workplace, along with good tool and equipment organization, helps optimize shop efficiency and productivity. That, in turn, drives profitability. Additionally, safety is improved by the clean, organized shop.
Proper organization and storage of tools and shop equipment also helps to keep them in peak condition for a long time.
Tools and equipment ought to be kept in their respective places when a job has been completed. Along with reducing the chance of their being misplaced or lost, this can help prevent accidents. If tools and equipment are left or placed in an incorrect area, there is a possibility that someone could slip or trip over them.
Another best practice is to keep storage units in areas that are clean and dry and have minimal exposure to dust, moisture, temperature changes and other adverse conditions. Label storage cabinets or places.
Technician and shop productivity is further increased when tools and equipment are stored near the point of use, easy to find, available and ready to use when needed. Frequently used items should be stored in conveniently accessible locations.
By doing so, time is not lost looking for tools and equipment. The time technicians spend off a job when searching for a lost tool or piece of equipment, or one that is required to complete a job, can add up quickly in job delays, reduced work efficiency and increased expenses.
What’s more, costs are reduced because tools and shop equipment are less likely to be lost, damaged or stolen and will not have to be replaced.
