Why Tool Control is Important

Tool control measures have become a must across a variety of different industries, not only to prevent tools being left on job sites, but to also increase efficiency whilst working on specific jobs.

At Parotec Solutions, we can provide specific and custom tool control solutions to suit your specific business requirements. No matter what industry you’re in, we can find the right solution for you.

What is tool control?

Tool control is a method used to quickly determine whether all tools are accounted for and correctly stored at the end of a task.

Tool control methods can only be complete if each tool has a specific place where it is stored, as this allows for quick identification if the tool is missing or has been misplaced and helps to improve safety measures. 

Methods of tool control

There are several methods of tool control which are commonly used in a variety of industries: 

Tool Shadowing

Tool shadowing involves designating a specific space for each tool. It is designed in such a way that from just a quick glance, you will be able to see which tools are missing.

The custom foam inserts have specific cut out sections for each tool. Tool shadowing works by outlining the tool and then cutting out the shape for the tool to snugly sit in. 

Custom 5s Foam

Custom 5s foam comes with dual layers of black and a coloured foam which can be cut into any specific shape or size. 5s foam is an extremely effective storage solution which allows you to instantly see what tools are in use by the exposure of the bright coloured foam.

When 5s foam is used correctly, the time spent searching for tools is drastically reduced and safety is prioritised. 

Engraved Tools

Tools can also be engraved with specific numbers or words for easy identification. This means workers can easily track and identify what tool is missing.

For example, a message could be sent to your team asking for the whereabouts of a specific tool, with the specific part number as reference. This allows for quick and easy identification and prevents potential misplacement of tools in dangerous areas.

Find out more about our laser cutting and engraving services. 

Why is tool control important?

As well as being a quick and easy method to immediately identify tools, tool control has a number of other benefits: 

Increased Safety

Reducing the risk of FOD (foreign object damage/debris) is crucial. Leaving a tool in an aircraft or vehicle engine, for example, can be highly dangerous. A strong focus on tool control helps to massively reduce this risk. 

Reduces costs spent on tool damage and loss

Specialist equipment can be extremely expensive, and losing these tools could be extremely costly for a business. Packing tools into shadow foam reduces the risk of overlooking any tools that may be accidentally left at a job site, and therefore saves expenses replacing missing tools. 

Improves accountability

The need to put safety and efficiency at the heart of every job means there must be a way to securely store tools and pieces of equipment. Using tool control can save businesses £1000’s in accident prevention by encouraging workers to be responsible when putting tools back in their correct place. 

Saves time and improves efficiency

When each tool has its own specific space, it means workers are less likely to lose tools or turn up to a job without the correct tools needed. When a toolkit is organised, it means tasks can be completed much quicker as there is no need to spend significant periods of time searching for the tools. 

Secures tools

Storing tools within a foam board rather than loose in a toolkit protects and secures them from any damage during transportation.

Which industries is tool control crucial for?

Tool control is a requirement for many industries, including: 

Aviation

It is vital that workers within the aviation industry reduce the chance of losing or misplacing any tools. When you’re flying, the last thing you want to happen is to have a necessary tool missing from your kit.

All tools are required by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Tool Control & Accountability Policy to be controlled, inspected regularly and have clear and coherent labelling systems. 

Why is it important to maintain aircraft tools?

The main focus of tool control within the aviation industry is to prevent any mistakes caused by lost or faulty pieces of equipment.

Issues with tool quality control can cost the aviation industry over £500 million every year, and the damages caused by this tool loss could be catastrophic, with potential damage to the aircraft and creating danger for the individuals onboard. 

Military

The proper need for tool accountability in the military is vital, as there is a potential endangerment of life. In some divisions, individuals are selected to oversee all tools and the ways in which they are allocated. There must be a logbook system and inventory created to ensure all tools are correctly counted for.

Similarly to the aviation industry, a simple misplacement of a tool can have extremely serious consequences. For example, a missing tool could end up interfering with machinery in aircrafts or other operating systems. 

Engineering

It’s a universal need for engineers to have an organised toolbox, no matter what industry they work in. Introducing the correct tool organisation system can help to reduce the amount of time spent looking for tools, and increase the amount of time working on a specific job.

There is also the crucial factor of safety. If poor tool control leads to faulty and/or broken tools, it could result in equipment being incorrectly installed in a customers home, which can be extremely dangerous. 

Manufacturing

There needs to be rigorous preventative measures in place throughout manufacturing facilities in order to prevent any unwanted items entering a customer’s package.

Many manufacturers will use electronic logging systems to ensure only qualified and experienced workers operate the tools. Not only does this save time and money, but it massively reduces the risk of FOD. 

Tool control with Parotec Solutions

From custom foam boards to 5s foam, at Parotec Solutions, we can provide the perfect tool control solution for you.

We offer fully customisable foam solutions, vital for keeping your business running efficiently, effectively and most importantly, safely.