OAT Tool Tracking

One of the most labor-intensive processes in manufacturing is tracking indirect materials, particularly tools, production tooling and specialized equipment. For companies with highly specialized tooling, such as Aerospace and Heavy Equipment Manufacturers, Defense Contractors, MROs and Airlines, tool tracking has a greater impact on operational costs.

RFID automates and error-proofs tool tracking processes, resulting in:

• Increased Manufacturing Tool Utilization
• Improved Inventory Accuracy in Tool Stores
• Automated Tracking of Tool Maintenance and Calibration
• Prevention of Foreign Object Debris (FOD)

A Defense Contractor real-time enabled their Costpoint® system with OAT software to track and improve the utilization of specialized tools in multiple manufacturing facilities.

Where Does RFID-enabled Tool Tracking Provide the Most Benefit?
The table below describes the most common tool tracking scenarios, by industry and functional area.

Industry Functional Area(s) Tool Tracking Process RFID Application Benefits Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Overhaul Maintenance Tool Control Managing tool inventory & calibration status across multiple facilities Improved Asset Utilization, Reduction in Spares Inventory Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Overhaul Maintenance FOD Prevention Automating Check-in/Check Out, real-time location of tools and debris Minimized Risk of Foreign Object Debris / Damage Industrial and Farm Equipment Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Asset Tracking - Production Tooling Tracking high-value, long-term assets · specialized tooling/molds for composite manufacturing · high-value production and test equipment Meeting production deadlines and contractual commitments Reduction in spares inventory, expedite costs Oil and Gas Exploration & Production Asset Tracking - E&P Tooling and Equipment Tracking high-value assets in the field · specialized drilling equipment, vehicles and transports · drill string Improved asset utilization Improved production efficiency and compliance Reduction in spares inventory, expedite costs

 

OAT enabled an Aerospace OEM to automate the control, calibration and maintenance of production tooling, resulting in higher productivity and lower overall tooling costs.

Why Track Tools and Tooling along with Work-in-Process?
The cost of a lost tool can be extraordinarily high.  Given that tools and specialized equipment are commonly custom-made, hard to source and expensive to replace, a lost tool can have more impact on a production schedule than a missing component part.  In Aerospace and Defense manufacturing tools used to assemble and maintain aircraft, if left behind, can compromise safety.

How Does RFID Real-Time Enable My Current Tool Tracking Processes?
The diagram below illustrates a check-out process from a tool store, updating enterprise systems and providing alerts when user intervention is required.

Features:
OAT Tool Tracking Enables:

• Inventory Accuracy: Real-time status of tool location & maintenance status
• Process Improvement: Instant alerts drive proactive maintenance and sourcing
• Integration: Built-in interfaces for ERP, Program Management, WMS, Asset Management and MRO systems.
• Device Independence: Flexible configuration can incorporate mixed environments with barcode, RFID, RTLS and other sensors

Learn More:

RFID and RTLS Tool Tracking: Deployment Tips

Apparel
Aerospace & Defense
Automotive
Chemicals
Consumer Products
Industrial Machinery & Components
Oil and Gas

	OAT SOLUTIONS SUPPORT: Barcode - Passive RFID - Active RFID - Ultra Wide Band RF (UWB) - Wi-Fi - RTLS - RFID-enhanced EAS - Location Servers - GPS - Application Sensors (e.g. Stack Lights, PLCs, alarms...)