Separate waiting from the issue transaction
Observe several typical collections from arrival to departure with the equipment. Distinguish time spent in the queue, searching for tools, preparing the set and recording the handover.
This shows where the delay occurs. Faster label reading will make little difference if the issuer spends several minutes deciding who should receive the last available unit.
Prepare some of the work earlier
Requests submitted before the shift make it possible to prepare frequently used sets and identify shortages. User details and expected return dates can also be established in advance.
A routine handover does not necessarily need a lengthy form. The essentials are the correct unit, its recipient and a record of the transfer. Additional information should serve the process rather than fill every available field.
Exceptions need a clear route
An incomplete return, an unreadable label and a disputed allocation require different attention from an ordinary collection. Agree who resolves these cases and when they can be handled separately from the queue while keeping control of the equipment.
For a plant director, a useful measure is the time from joining the queue to receiving a complete set. A scan count does not show this. After changing the process, observe comparable collections again to check whether employees can actually start work sooner.