Below you will find a brief description of the functions that are available in the Tool Management feature in MONITOR.
Tool Groups and Tool Registers
You can create tool groups with pre-selected or default properties for the different tool types used in MONITOR. The system supports most of the different tool types that are usually used in manufacturing. You can link separate product groups for Acquisition and Adjustment/Calibration. The system also allows you to use tool structures.
You can then go to the tool register to link tools to a tool group and include these properties. You can then complement the tools by adding for example calibration or purchasing information. For measuring tools, you can also use a color coding system according to the prevailing standards.
The Tool Depot Register
This register is used to manage all manual tool withdrawals and returns. This is usually applied to all hand tools that are borrowed and returned to the tool depot. You can also book a tool for later use (withdrawal).
Using Tools in Preparations and Orders
When you are creating preparations for parts, you can also link tools to operations. You can then enter a number of tools per operation in a tool list. This means that when you place (register) an order for that part, the system automatically reserves the required tools.
Following Up and Tracing Tools
By using the Tool Info procedure, you can see all reservations, withdrawals and planned purchases (reorders) for your tools. For example, a reservation can arise from an order of a part that has tools linked to its operations. When an operator starts work on this order in the Recording Terminal in MONITOR (under the Workshop Info module), the tools that have been reserved for that order automatically "jump" over to the withdrawal list in the Tool Info procedure.
Simultaneous Orders Using the Same Tool
You can always see which orders that can be manufactured "simultaneously" (i.e. orders that have reserved the same tools) by applying a tool filter in the Priority Planning procedure in the Workshop Info module. In that case, only the orders that have reserved a specific tool will be shown. You can also use the Priority Planning procedure to order and clear tools.
Tool Consumption
The system also allows you to reject and scrap tools that have been worn out. The tools that are consumable tools are always considered consumed when they are withdrawn.
Calibrating and Adjusting Tools
You can register information about tools that need to be calibrated or adjusted with regular intervals, or after a certain number of cycles. You can then create a calibration basis for those tools that need to be calibrated or adjusted. You can reserve the tools for this. You can also create and report special purchase orders for calibration/adjustment. The results from calibration/adjustment can be reported.
Tool Inventory and Tool Inventory Values
The system allows you to perform physical inventory of tools and to create reorder point lists. This comes in handy for those tools or tool details that are consumed ("consumables"). You can also perform inventory valuations for tools. This applies only to tools that are not included in the fixed asset lists. You can indicate on each individual tool whether it should be included in the Fixed asset register or not.
Tool History
The Tool Log procedure allows you to view a log containing all transactions that have been performed on a tool, and follow the tool's history. You can also see the physical inventory differences, return statistics or tool consumption information.