Storage containers

[ErnieHorning]

I feel good now, I'm better than a brain dead monkey.:p

[oldcqr]

I feel good now, I'm better than a brain dead monkey.:p

On the brain dead monkey scale of soldering, you actually rank 'Super Human' Ern.... :D

Wait... That doesn't sound right

[erm213]

Thanks for the pictures. I want to be organized, and figured I would ask those who have been there before.

Erik

[OregonLights]

These organization schemes have some important hallmarks of Lean Manufacturing that really do make a difference and reduce errors:
1. Label the bins with pictures to aid visual recognition
2. Label the bins with process steps
3. Label the bins with quantity used per part and a min/max stock limit.
4. Put the bins at the point of use so you don't have to waste time traveling back and forth

These actions improve efficiency, but they also reduce errors because they are more easily recognizable visually as opposed to reading a bunch of text. You can see the effect when you walk up for the first time and take a look at what's going on. In the first example of the bins, you can see what parts are needed, when they're used, and if you are out of stock. This without having to ask any questions! Hence, the brain cells are able to focus on other things.

Nice work guys and a great example for me to begin organizing in anticipation of the arrival of my group buy stuff!

[IdunBenhad]

Hi:
I went to Home Depot today and purchased one of the parts bins. You guys shamed me into it. No more Christmas out of my cardboard box. DARN!

[wonko]

Hi:
I went to Home Depot today and purchased one of the parts bins. You guys shamed me into it. No more Christmas out of my cardboard box. DARN!

LOL Idun. I didn't see anything wrong with your set up. I can tell you this, there's more organization there than I currently have. The first step for me when it comes time to build my boards is going to have to be clean up my bench. Besides, who doesn't like Christmas every day?

Brian

[IdunBenhad]

Hi:
Well, I had to clean up my bench to find a place to put the parts bin. Then, being the organized, orderly guy I am, I printed labels for all the bins and started to apply them.

Guess what! My labels were so old, they wouldn't stick on the bin, so I started using Scotch tape to apply them and I ran out of tape! I have about half the bins to go.

Maybe I'll just throw everything back in the box and give the parts bin to Grumpy for her sewing. Except she might sew my wallet shut.

The only problem with that is I put the box in the trash today. Trash man said I should be recycling, but I'm not a little green man. I'm going to bed.

[dirknerkle]

I bought about 4 dozen 6-quart plastic container bins from Target -- they were about $1 each (on sale) with a snap-on cover. Each is labeled with the "stuff" that's inside, such as "RESISTORS" or "DIODES & CAPACITORS", etc. and I put them on a bookshelf (photo attached).

With parts from Mouser (or elsewhere) I just leave them inside the anti-static bag, but I relabel it with a marking pen because the thermal labels always fade. For instance, packs of resistors are just standing in packs in ascending order by resistor value. Capacitors are much the same. With the covers, everything stays nice and neat inside and in order. When I build something, I just go from one bin to the next, selecting the parts I need and putting the bags back inside in order again. It's turned out to be a pretty efficient system for me and I can usually find things quite quickly. Bins are categorized as follows (in no particular order):

Triacs/Dip sockets/Fuses/Terminal blocks
Cat5 plugs/jacks/crimper/tester
Capacitors & Diodes
PIC Programmers & PICS
Resistors
LEDS & Transistors
Wi-Fi Antennas
FM Transmitters
Plugs/Heaters
Prototypes/Bare Boards
XBee/Ren-W
Prototyping Boards/Supplies
Cable Testers/Meters/Kill-a-Watt
Cable Converters/Adapters
Audio/batteries/battery holders
Video/webcams/connectors
SSRs/
PC Gear/Serial Converters
DMX Gear
Extra Mini-Lites/Fuses
Light clips/color caps
Production PCBs
Copper Boards
Misc Electronic Parts/Regulators
Misc Hardware/screws/nuts
Cabling supplies/heatshrink/tape
Crydom Triacs/High-Power switches
Timers
X-10/Wireless Switches
LED Projects
Olsen595/Grinch/Parallell
K8055 boards/USB Hub
Ren-C/RenSS/LV/Ren64
MiniRen8/4 - MiniRen8/8
Ren816/Ren816XB
DC Wall Warts
AC Wall Warts

[Jim Curtis]

Don't know if you remember Mike (oldcqr), but my wife and I visited you as my first experience to this whole addiction, we live north of you in Dade CIty ... this past December. When you showed us your back building with all your stuff, it was the organization that impressed my wife. Little did I know then having never seen a setup of lights before that I would catch the fever like I have (and haven't even set up a single light yet). Seeing the pictures of Dirknerkle and james70818 storage methods remeinded me of your bins being used for storage.

I guess the next step is going to Home Depot and buy some storage containers now that I have alot of group buys under my belt and have ALOT of PCB's and BOM's coming my way soon.

PS the wife is not going to be involved, but is "letting" get into this "hobby" 150%.
PPS am I way too much into the sequencing phase when I see orange traffic cones lined up bay a road and it reminds me of a mega tree sequence?

[oldcqr]

I remember.... She had that 'he's taking us into the woods to kill us' look on her face

It's actually a LOT more organized when it's not the middle of the season. You should see what it looks like right now.

Organization will set you free.