[MachineShop] Your thoughts

[Rob Roy]

Motion activated video recording (unfortunately), and gently correct the
first time offender.
I think it would go hand in hand with periodic inventory, video disposed of
post inventory cycle.

On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM Denis Muradov via Machineshop <
machineshop at quelab.net> wrote:

> I'm running in to an issue. People are "borrowing" things from the machine
> shop and not returning them. To give an example, the vacuum cleaner has so
> far lost the hose and the small parts attachment.
>
>
> The issue I have with this is the following:
>
> 1) A person can borrow a single part and reduce the utility of something
> significantly.
>
> 2) I takes a lot of time to try to find this stuff. In my case if I'm
> working on a project I become then saddled with having to extend my stay
> because parts that I needed to finish cleaning are now missing.
>
> 3) These parts are rather of a specific fit and hard to replace. A hose
> can be made to fit, which is what we have now, but it's not the correct
> hose. Any workarounds cost significant time.
>
> 4) Replacement parts, if they exist, would come out of the training
> budget. This means that people that didn't pay in to the shop get to
> benefit from people that do.
>
>
> Potential solutions:
>
> 1) SIgns. Though in my experience these do not work.
>
> 2) I can put tools in to cabinets and put a combination lock on them to
> prevent people from borrowing those tools. Certified users would have the
> combination. The issue I see is with vacuum attachments and other similar
> accessories that can not be locked up.
>
> 3) Putting tagout locks on all equipment with a plug. This "could" deter
> people from borrowing them, and their parts.
>
> 4) Badge reader on the door, a number pad combination pad or just locking
> the main door with a key. This might solve the issue, but could potentially
> introduce new ones. The most obvious one is that in case of an emergency
> (someone screaming from the shop) how would outside help get in? I know
> that the two person rule should take care of this, but it's still a
> concern. Maybe an occupancy sensor (or a few) that unlocks the door if
> someone is inside, with a generous delay?
>
>
>
> This issue has always existed with the shop. Previously the "solution" to
> this was to keep the parts list down and not replacing parts that break or
> go missing. I am not a fan of this approach, because it also affects
> training.
>
>
>
> Your thoughts?
> --
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>
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