A dot a day keeps the clutter away (scottlawsonbc.com)

The article describes a low-tech inventory system for an electronics lab that uses clear labeled boxes and colored dot stickers to mark “one dot per box per day” whenever a component is used. Over four years, the author says the dots reveal which cross-cutting supplies are frequently needed, which specialized parts are rarely used, and even which tools are less essential than expected. The system also helps decide what to keep nearby, store in a closet, or move to “cold storage” when space is limited.