Magnet Strip Pen Holder: Anchor Daily Pens So They Pull Out Cleanly
A magnet strip holds a Kaizen foam pen holder in place so the needed pen stays visible and the holder does not shift.
- Creator
Southwest Steel Buildings- Company
- Southwest Steel Buildings
- Wastes
Pens were buried in a loose container, sometimes on top and sometimes on bottom, so the user had to search for the blue pen and disturb the holder when pulling items out.
The user put the pens used daily into a Kaizen foam pen holder and added a magnet strip to the back so the holder sticks in place while a pen is pulled out.
Make the correct tool location visible, fixed, and reusable.
What is a Magnet Strip Pen Holder?
A magnet strip pen holder is a small point of use organizer for the pens someone actually uses every day. Kaizen foam gives each pen a defined home instead of letting pens get buried in a mixed container.
The magnet strip on the back anchors the pen holder to a compatible surface. When the user pulls a pen out, the holder stays put instead of shifting.
The improvement captures a simple standard: these are the daily pens, and this is where each one belongs. That makes the setup easy to copy and easy to check.
Why it works
The improvement turns a repeated search into a visible, reusable standard for finding and returning the right pen.
- Reuses knowledge by separating the pens used daily from the random pile and giving them a known location.
- Adds value by making the needed pen, such as the blue pen, available without sorting through unrelated items.
- Mistake-proofs the setup because Kaizen foam shows where each pen belongs and the magnet strip keeps the holder from moving during use.
Evidence: The transcript says the pen could be buried on top or bottom, the user needed the blue pen, selected the pens used on a daily basis, used Kaizen foam, and added a magnet strip so the holder would stick while the pen was pulled.
How to create this idea
- 1Sort daily pens
Pull out only the pens used every day. Remove extras so the holder teaches what belongs there.
- 2Make foam slots
Use Kaizen foam to create a visible location for each daily pen. Keep the layout simple enough to inspect at a glance.
- 3Add the magnet strip
Attach a magnet strip to the back of the pen holder. Place it where the magnet can hold the holder steady.
- 4Test the pull
Pull each pen out the way it will be used. Adjust the magnet contact or slot fit if the holder shifts.
- 5Maintain the standard
Return each pen to the same slot after use. If extra pens collect there, remove them from the daily-use holder.
Best used when
- daily pens
- buried tools
- magnetic mounting
- point of use
Less useful when
- no magnetic surface
- rarely used pens
- oversized tools
- dirty locations
Tags
- Problem
- searchingburied toolsshifting holder
- Lean methods
- 5Svisual managementmistake proofing
- Application
- office suppliesdesk toolspoint of use
Captured from Southwest Steel Buildings at Southwest Steel Buildings in the video "Too many pens! Desktop Lean", at 00:00:29. On Lean Toolbox. Watch the original video on YouTube ↗
