6 minute read
The halfway point of the year is a good time to review the tools and equipment your teams rely on every day.
Regular checks help identify worn, damaged, or outdated equipment before it affects productivity. They can also help reduce unexpected downtime, improve workplace safety, and extend equipment lifespan.
However, a mid-year review should cover more than visible damage.
It is also an opportunity to ask whether your equipment is:
Whether you manage a manufacturing facility or a maintenance team, this guide can help you review your current setup.
Use it as both a mid-year equipment checklist and a buying guide for the months ahead.
A mid-year check should answer five practical questions:
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TOOL CONDITION |
CALIBRATION & ACCURACY |
CONSUMABLES & ESSENTIALS |
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Is it safe and fit for purpose? |
Can teams use it when needed? |
Is the right protection available? |
Can you trust the results? |
Will stock shortages stop work? |
Use these questions to review the equipment your teams rely on every day.
The following checklist covers what to inspect, what to replace, and where a better setup could improve efficiency.
Tools used every day experience regular wear. Small faults may not always be obvious, but they can affect performance and safety.
Check tools for:
A tool can still work while becoming less effective, less efficient, or unsuitable for the job.
Check whether each tool is:
TOP TIP: Outdoor and construction teams should pay particular attention to equipment exposed to dust, moisture, heat, frequent transport, and heavy daily use.
If staff identify damaged equipment, remove it from use immediately.
Then decide whether it needs to be:
This helps prevent damaged equipment from being used accidentally. It also helps teams act on faults before they cause delays.
Battery and charger condition can affect whether tools are ready when teams need them.
Check for:
Check whether your setup provides:
TOP TIP: Review compatibility across your equipment. Standardising systems can reduce the number of batteries and chargers your teams need. It can also make it easier to keep spares available.
Damaged or unsuitable PPE can leave teams without the protection their tasks require.
Check that safety equipment is:
This may include eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, helmets, and respiratory protection.
Use this review to identify any additional protection teams may need for new tasks, different environments, seasonal changes, or increased workloads.
Ordering ahead of seasonal changes helps keep teams equipped and ready for the work ahead.
New tools can introduce new operating requirements.
Make sure your team understands how to use new equipment safely.
Before introducing equipment, check that users:
TOP TIP: Consolidating PPE and workplace supplies through a single source can simplify purchasing and help keep teams consistently equipped. MY-SMI® gives you one centralised portal to manage products, orders, and supply across multiple locations.
Reliable measuring and inspection equipment supports accurate results.
Use your mid-year review to check whether the equipment your teams rely on continues to perform as expected.
ASK YOURSELF: Can your team trust the measurements they’re taking?
Review whether equipment needs:
Depending on the equipment, calibration, servicing, or repairs may need to be completed by a qualified engineer or specialist service provider.
Always follow the manufacturer's guidance and keep calibration and inspection records up to date.
This helps teams confirm that equipment is ready for use. It also helps identify issues before they lead to rework or delays.
A missing drill bit, cutting disc, or replacement accessory can bring a job to a standstill.
Consumables are easy to overlook until teams need them and discover they’re not available.
Use your mid-year review to identify the products your teams rely on most. Then check whether stock levels match actual usage.
Review stock levels for commonly used items, such as:
Look for products that regularly run out, remain unused, or are being purchased by multiple teams or sites.
ASK YOURSELF: Could your current product range be simplified?
Different teams may purchase similar products for the same task.
Controlled product ranges can reduce unnecessary variation, simplify replenishment, and help identify opportunities to reduce purchasing costs across departments and locations.
TOP TIP: MY-SMI® can help you manage controlled product ranges across multiple locations. Use one portal to improve visibility over stock, spend, and usage.
Has your mid-year review highlighted how much time your teams spend ordering tools, equipment, and workplace supplies across different sites?
Managing multiple suppliers can mean more orders, approvals, and admin.
MY-SMI® brings your workplace supplies together through one centralised portal.
Use the portal to:
Ready to simplify purchasing? Register for a MY-SMI® account today.
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