Tool Oil Point of Use Kit: Store Oil and Allen Wrench Beside the Oiler
Keep the oiler, tool oil, and required Allen wrench together so the morning oiling routine is easy to repeat correctly.
- Creator
American Precision Engineering- Company
- American Precision Engineering
- Wastes
Tool oiling can be missed or delayed when the oil or the Allen wrench needed to open the oiler is not at the work area.
The team stored the tool oil and the required Allen wrench directly beside the oiler, so the complete setup is available where the oiling task happens.
Make the proven method visible and reusable at the point of use.
What is a Tool Oil Point of Use Kit?
A tool oil point of use kit is a fixed location that holds the items needed to oil tools correctly. In this case, the oiler, tool oil, and Allen wrench are kept together.
The improvement captures more than storage. It makes the known method visible: add oil in the morning, and use the Allen wrench to pop the top off the oiler.
When the consumable and the required tool live with the oiler, the task is easier to understand, easier to repeat, and harder to skip because something is missing.
Why it works
This works because it turns a small maintenance task into visible, reusable knowledge at the place where the work is done.
- Reuses knowledge by keeping the exact oiling setup together, including the Allen wrench needed to open the oiler.
- Adds value by making correct tool maintenance easier to perform during the morning routine.
- Mistake proofs the task by making the oil and wrench part of the standard setup, so missing items are easier to notice before oiling is skipped.
Evidence: The transcript says the oiler is right there, the oil is right there so it can be added in the morning, and the Allen wrench is needed to pop the top off the oiler.
How to create this idea
- 1Choose the task
Pick a recurring care task that depends on a consumable and a specific small tool, such as adding tool oil to an oiler.
- 2List required items
Write down every item needed to complete the task correctly. Include support tools such as the Allen wrench needed to open the oiler.
- 3Create one home
Store the oiler, tool oil, and Allen wrench together at the point of use. Use a dedicated spot so the complete setup is easy to recognize.
- 4Make absence visible
Label or outline each item location so anyone can see when the oil or Allen wrench is missing.
- 5Teach the routine
Connect the setup to the morning oiling routine. Make returning each item to the kit part of the standard work.
Best used when
- daily maintenance
- shared tools
- small required tools
- consumable refills
- operator care
Less useful when
- rare repairs
- automatic lubrication
- remote storage required
- one time tasks
Products and tools mentioned
- Allen wrench: Stored beside the oiler because it is needed to open the oiler top.
- Oiler: Kept at the work area as the place where oil is added for tool care.
- Tool oil: Stored beside the oiler so it is available for the morning oiling routine.
Tags
- Problem
- missed maintenancemissing toolsdefects
- Lean methods
- point of usevisual managementmistake proofing
- Application
- tool caremaintenanceshop floor
Captured from American Precision Engineering at American Precision Engineering in the video "Tour of APE's lean shop", at 00:06:06. On Lean Toolbox. Watch the original video on YouTube ↗
