User:Mct/cold-metals-area-host-notes

things i don't like as a space user

which is to say, things that i find impede my ability to get things done, or which otherwise compromise my ability to use & enjoy the space, which i believe other people would agree with my about, & which i think it would generally be a good thing to improve (in so far as any of them are actually a problem - i don't mean to give the impression that i believe that cold metals, or the space in general, is rife with dysfunction)

• clutter, mess, or broken tools
  • more effort (time, energy, money, cognition) for me to work around that stuff than it should require
• not having space to work
  • table space taken up by other things or unavailable to begin with
  • ordinarily clear floor space taken up by stuff dumped there
    • not being able to access a tool because there are things in the way
• lack of information
  • not knowing what the status (working, not working, not to be used) of a tool is
  • not knowing where to find something i know is in the area and want to use
  • things being moved around (officially, on the part of the host) without the users being informed
• delay
  • waiting on authorization on a tool
  • waiting for someone else to finish using a tool
  • having to order a part because the space was out of something it stocks
  • looking for something that's not in its place
• inaccessibility
  • tool usage information not available (on wiki, via authorizations)
  • inoperable, partially operable, or fully operable tools with broken authorization tracks
  • lack of consistent organization policies across area, across shop in general

sketches toward resolution

mention here is not meant to imply that a given activity or strategy is not already performed - rather, that its performance (ongoing or otherwise) could help improve the state of the space

focuses as area host

a few high-level projects which, taken together, could make a substantial step in helping ameliorate the above concerns, & the natural starting point for which seems to be the area host position

• put as much information in a public, accessible, recorded form as possible
  • wiki, calendar - both already well-used by membership
• make it easy & quick for people to get authorized
• prefer improving existing infrastructure / tools over acquiring new ones
• involve area users in decision-making process for the area as much as possible

policies as area host

interrelated, more-or-less concrete actions, habits, initiatives, &c which seem like they could be useful in working toward / implementing the above focuses

• within cold metals
  • people stuff
    • form working group of frequent cold metals users to solicit ideas & coordinate activities
      • solicit as much input as possible, but have priorities & ability to move forward on them regardless of member participation
      • try consensus-driven decision-making
      • use rolling agendas recorded on wiki
      • record notes on wiki
      • lower barrier to participation as much as possible
        • have meetings frequently, with lots of notification (on email list)
        • actively solicit input from people who use the area but don't participate much
    • coordinate authorization availability on wiki / calendar
      • check up on people periodically to make sure they're still available for doing auths
    • go through & regularize cold-metals articles on wiki
      • make sure all tools have up-to-date wiki pages & labels
        • including inventories (variable thoroughness, suitable for value of tools in question?) of smaller tools
          • hand tools, clamps
          • mill / lathe / drillpress / grinder tooling
      • make sure authorizations are recorded
      • photograph as many things as possible, for easy identification
        • wiki infoboxes
      • point out location on map, for things that are unlikely to move
        • map out cold metals floorspace first
    • establish & record periodic area / tool / wiki maintenance procedures
      • make checklists for what needs to be done each period
      • keep record of what's been done & when
    • commit to periodic area walkthroughs
      • check for parking requests, broken tools, things out of place
  • material stuff
    • regularize consumables stocking
      • set target quantities
      • periodically go through & take rough inventories
      • set up e.g. fastenal stocking program?
    • establish a labeling program, to make it easier to keep track of where things are
      • e.g. on shelves / drawers / tools
      • build on colored tool carts?
    • make sure the space stays clear
      • move things that are sitting in front of cold metals tools
      • establish actual boundaries of cold metals area?
• within ps1 in general
  • work with other area hosts to establish cross-area authorization tracks / curricula
    • follow model of cold metals, woodshop auths? bundle tools with related functionalities / uses together?
    • design them around being able to do things that people commonly want to do
      • try & get people able to work on the projects they want to work on at the shop as quickly as possible