ToolLodge is an elegant, innovative solution to the problem of tool drawer organization. It is a tool organizer and drawer liner which allows users to custom-organize hand tools quickly by arranging them on the liner and pressing or tapping them in to make permanent indentations for permanent storage.

ToolLodge is made to fit the drawer. It is comprised of a good-looking finish which covers a zero-memory core material and it has a tough vinyl backing.

Technicians, businesses and home garage enthusiasts invest thousands of dollars in their tools and tool chests, but these tools usually end up scattered in messy tool chest drawers.

Many available tool organizers are made for specific tool sets and the tools that don’t fit just pile up. It often takes time to retrieve tools from these organizers which require picking up the organizer and snapping tools in and out of them.

While available custom foam organizers provide more efficient tool retrieval, the set-up requires tracing around each individual tool and then cutting the foam with a razor knife. It’s tedious and time-consuming and it tests the user’s patience as well as their prowess with a razor knife.

THE CHALLENGE: Design a tool drawer organizer which is:
? Customizable and can hold a variety of hand tools,
? Easy and fast to use,
? Durable enough for everyday use by professionals, and
? Good-looking. (Yes, this counts!)

I value organization and efficiency. My sock drawer is evidence. The time saved doing repetitive daily tasks and chores can always be spent doing something else more enjoyable. In business, it makes sense that the time spent looking for needed tools and supplies is considered waste.

As an experienced engineering program manager and Six Sigma Black Belt, this sole designer placed a huge emphasis on efficiency in all aspects of the organizer's development, manufacturing and the supporting business processes.

The most valuable application of efficiency, however, had to be provided to the end user in both the initial and ongoing utilization of the product. The organizer had to be easy to use and functional.

The concept, making permanent impressions with tools directly into a drawer liner, was certainly a “eureka” moment. However, making the product a reality by identifying materials, a working production process, and executing prototype testing required resilience and rigor.

Just a few days after the concept was born, I visited a successful foam business and spoke with the owner. I was told, in so many words, that the materials I was seeking would not exist as the product would need to be malleable yet also strong – two opposing characteristics, hence impossible to find. To me these comments only meant that product development would take some determination and out-of-the-box thinking.

Over many months, myriad material samples had to be researched, procured, and tested together to develop a working prototype. These included adhesives, foams, flocks, various spray and textile finishes and supportive backings. This also entailed hours of driving, numerous internet transactions and many days of cutting, curing, environment adjustments and testing. Also, under the constraints of a tight budget, production supplies and tooling had to be designed and fabricated to produce a wide range of organizer sizes with the same high quality every time. Finally, the right materials were combined with the proper processes to make quality organizers that would function to meet requirements.

With the help of local field testers, including an auto repair shop owner and a helicopter maintenance manager, the voice of the customer was ever present. Their testing and feedback was a constant. The local Small Business Development Center provided strategic input on business decisions as well as valuable encouragement.

ToolLodge provides a fast and easy way for users to improve efficiency and tool inventory control. For any business, maximizing efficiency directly affects the bottom line. Time spent looking for a tool is time wasted.

Not only can the cost of lost tools add up quickly, the potential risk of leaving a tool in a precarious place such as a vehicle or aircraft engine compartment can present real safety hazards. Foreign Object Damage (FOD) is serious issue, especially in the aerospace industry.

ToolLodge makes it easy for users to find tools at a glance and just as importantly, quickly note missing tools. The ease of use and sharp looks give it an edge over other organizers.