ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- A tool reservation system initially put online in 2010 is up and running again to assist employees throughout the industrial area.

The reservation system is built into the Automated Tool Inventory Control and Tracking System, better known as ATICTS, which can be found on the depot's Intranet.

"This tool ordering system was in place in 2010, but it had issues. It went offline for about two years and is now up and running again," said John McGriff, supervisor for inventory management in the Directorate of Material Management.

Supervisors and leaders throughout the industrial area can use ATICTS to order tools for their employees, many of which can then be delivered to the shop.

"We deliver only on the East side of the depot," said McGriff.

By delivering to buildings in the Nichols Industrial Complex, Tool Crib employees save production time. They can also expedite orders needed urgently if the supervisor calls the Tool Crib when the equipment is ordered or adds a comment letting the staff know the part is a production-stopper.

"We use it to cut down on non-productive time with employees moving back and forth between the shop and Tool Crib," said Jason Clark, a depot heavy mobile equipment mechanic supervisor. "The system allows employees to be more productive on the job, which makes the depot more competitive."

Deliveries are made until 3:30 p.m. daily; later only in emergency circumstances.

For night shift employees, tool ordering is done with the assistance of day shift supervisors and leaders. For items the employee has to sign for, Tool Crib employees make an appointment with the employee for a convenient time.

When an order is placed for tools in ATICTS, it prints automatically in the Tool Crib. Each order must identify the employee who will use the tool(s), the building number and the cost center. With that information, Tool Crib staffers are able to verify the equipment needed and assign it to the appropriate individual.

A space for comments on the form allows supervisors to designate how quickly the tool is needed or give other instructions - such as where to deliver the item or to say the employee needing the tool will pick it up in person.

Right now, the ordering system may only be used for tools, but McGriff said the application has the potential to be used in ordering other products.

ATICTS tracks all equipment checked out by employees throughout the depot - from safety gear to the wrenches, hammers and other tools used by mechanics in the installation's various shops.

Through the system, employees have access to their personal tool inventories and McGriff encourages all employees to look at the inventory on a regular basis.

"Employees can ask their lead person to print out their tool inventories anytime," said McGriff. "Reviewing them can give employees a jump on their annual inventories."

Per Army regulations, an inventory of all tools is required each year. By ensuring an employee has all the tools and equipment assigned to them through ATICTS, employees can correct discrepancies in a timely manner.