When workers have to leave their workstation to find tools, parts, documents, or other materials, time is lost.
The problem may seem small at first. A few steps to collect a component. A short walk to find a document. A trip across the production floor to get a tool.
But when the same movement happens throughout the day, it can create unnecessary motion, interruptions, and delays.
This is where point of use storage can make a difference.
Point of use storage means keeping the items people need close to the place where the work is performed. The goal is simple: make the right materials available when and where they are needed.
What Is Point of Use Storage?
Point of use storage is a Lean workplace practice where tools, parts, documents, and supplies are stored close to the process where they are used.
Instead of keeping frequently used items in a distant storage area, the workplace is organised so that necessary items are available at or near the workstation.
This can help reduce unnecessary walking, searching, reaching, and handling.
Point of use storage can be used in many environments, including manufacturing, assembly, engineering, warehousing, logistics, maintenance, and other workplaces where people regularly need access to materials.
Why Does Point of Use Storage Matter?
The main reason is simple. Workers should be able to access the items they need without unnecessary movement.
When materials are stored too far away, workers may have to repeatedly leave their workstation. When storage locations are unclear, they may also spend time searching for the correct item.
A well organised point of use system can help:
- Reduce unnecessary walking
- Reduce time spent searching
- Keep frequently used items accessible
- Improve workstation organisation
- Support smoother material flow
- Make storage locations easier to understand
- Support 5S workplace organisation
Point of Use Storage and Lean
Point of use storage fits naturally into Lean thinking because it focuses on removing unnecessary activity from the process.
If a worker has to walk across a facility several times during a task to collect commonly used components, that movement may be an opportunity for improvement.
Bringing those components closer to the point of work can reduce unnecessary movement and make the process easier to follow.
It can also make problems more visible. When every item has a defined location, missing materials and poorly organised storage can be identified more quickly.
Use Storage That Makes Materials Easy to See
Storage should not only keep materials in one place. It should also make it easy to identify what is available.
The Open Handle Storage Tote | Pack of 3 | 400 x 300 x 75mm | Silver/Grey is designed for parts, tools, components, and documents that need to remain accessible and visible.
Its shallow design allows the contents to be seen easily, while the open handle makes the tote easy to lift, carry, and reposition.
This type of storage can be useful at workstations, shelves, trolleys, and racking where frequently used items need to remain close to the point of work.
Keep Standard Work at the Point of Use
Point of use storage is not limited to physical parts and tools.
Documents and work instructions can also be kept where they are needed.
If an operator needs to check a work instruction, inspection sheet, standard operating procedure, or 5S checklist, having to search for the document can interrupt the process.
The A3 Wall Mounted Document Holder | Brushed Stainless Steel is designed to display standard operating procedures, 5S checklists, work instructions, audit sheets, and visual standards at the point of work.
Keeping important information visible and accessible can help teams follow standards without leaving the work area to find the information they need.
Organise the Workstation Around the Process
Point of use storage works best when it is considered as part of the complete workstation.
Look at the items a worker uses most often and consider where each one should be positioned.
Frequently used items should generally be easy to reach and identify. Less frequently used items can be stored further away if they do not interrupt the normal workflow.
The Workstation Visual Management Kit brings several visual management tools together to help organise workstations and support Lean and 5S practices.
The aim is not to fill a workstation with more equipment. The aim is to make the workplace easier to understand and easier to use.
Make Storage Locations Clear
A point of use storage system works better when people know exactly where items belong.
This is where visual management becomes important.
The 5S Workplace Stickers 170mm | Pack of 10 can help keep the five 5S principles visible within the workplace.
Clear visual standards can help teams understand how areas should be organised and maintained.
When storage locations, work areas, and workplace standards are easy to understand, it becomes easier to maintain the system over time.
How to Set Up Point of Use Storage
You do not need to reorganise an entire facility at once.
Start with one workstation or one process where unnecessary movement is easy to see.
- Identify the tools, parts, documents, and supplies used most often.
- Record how far workers currently travel to access them.
- Move suitable frequently used items closer to the point of work.
- Give each item a clear and defined storage location.
- Make the storage location visible and easy to understand.
- Review the new setup and look for further improvements.
The goal is not simply to move storage closer. The goal is to create a system that remains organised and practical for the people using it.
What Should You Keep at the Point of Use?
Not everything needs to be stored directly beside a workstation.
Focus first on items that are used frequently or that regularly cause unnecessary movement.
- Frequently used tools
- Production components
- Consumables
- Work instructions
- Inspection documents
- Cleaning equipment
- Small parts and supplies
The right items will depend on the process. The best storage system is the one that supports the actual work being performed.
Avoid Creating Too Much Storage
Point of use storage should solve a problem, not create another one.
Adding too many containers, shelves, or storage locations can make a workstation crowded and harder to manage.
Start with the items that are genuinely needed. Remove unnecessary materials and keep storage simple.
This is where 5S becomes important. The purpose is to keep necessary items organised while preventing unnecessary items from taking up valuable space.
How Point of Use Storage Can Improve Daily Work
When the right items are available at the right place, workers spend less time searching and travelling.
Storage becomes easier to understand. Materials can be replenished more consistently. Workstations can remain organised. Problems become easier to spot.
These improvements may seem simple, but they can have a meaningful effect when they are repeated across a production area.
The result is a workplace where people can spend more time performing useful work and less time dealing with unnecessary movement and searching.
Frequently Asked Questions About Point of Use Storage
What is point of use storage?
Point of use storage means keeping tools, parts, documents, and supplies close to the place where they are needed and used.
Why is point of use storage important in Lean?
Point of use storage can reduce unnecessary walking, searching, and handling by keeping frequently needed items close to the process.
What should be stored at the point of use?
Frequently used tools, components, consumables, documents, work instructions, and other materials that workers regularly need can be suitable for point of use storage.
Is point of use storage part of 5S?
Yes. Point of use storage supports the Set in Order principle of 5S by giving necessary items defined and accessible locations.
How do I start point of use storage?
Start by observing one process and identifying the items workers repeatedly leave the workstation to collect. Move suitable items closer, give them clear storage locations, and review whether the new arrangement reduces unnecessary movement.
Final Thoughts
Point of use storage is a simple Lean principle with a practical purpose.
Keep the things people need close to where the work happens.
When tools, materials, and information are easy to access, workers can spend less time walking and searching and more time completing the work itself.
The best point of use storage systems are simple, visible, and designed around the actual process.
Start with one workstation, identify one source of unnecessary movement, and make one practical improvement. Then build from there.