Count bearings in a tray from a photo

Counting bearings and other high-value spares from a tray photo

Bearings are expensive enough that a short count matters, which is why maintenance stores count them before a planned shutdown, check them against a purchase order and reconcile spares between audits. Much of the time they arrive boxed, and a boxed bearing is a carton count; this page is for loose bearings laid out on a bench or tray.

Lay each bearing flat on a face so the inner and outer rings show as two circles; a bearing standing on edge looks like a short bar and can be missed. Polished steel reflects everything around it, so a light tent or a cloudy-day window works better than a desk lamp. Sealed bearings with colored shields and open bearings with visible balls look quite different from above, so mark one of each as Similar items examples. Loose steel balls are a separate item: mark a single ball if that is what you need counted.

With the markers checked, label the tally row with the bearing size and part number so the CSV lines up with the stores system, and sign in to save the stock-take for the next audit. Stock still in its boxes is counted on a shelf face with the box counter, and springs from the same spares kit can go in as extra rows.

Before you count bearings

• Bearings flat on a face, none on edge
• Soft, even light rather than one bright lamp
• One size and type per photo, or one example per type
• Part number written into the tally row label