A manufacturing tool can represent any type of equipment used in manufacturing and quality control, such as measurement tools, dies, jigs, fixtures and test equipment. The tool ID actually represents a class of tools with the same function. Tool instances represents the physical instances of tools. Manufacturing tools have the following uses:
On routings and shop order operations, the tool ID will be used as an information to the operator, and may also be associated with guidelines for use. It is also possible to report tool usage, which makes it possible to follow up on use of the tools.
As on routings and shop order operations, the tool ID is used as an information to the operator of the proper tools to use for the analysis. It may also be mandatory to report the use of the proper tools to complete and close the analysis.
When scheduling shop order operations with APB and CBS, tools may be finite resources. This means that the operation cannot be scheduled unless there is an instance available of the required tool during the operation.
To make a manufacturing tool instance subject to project resource planning, it can be connected to a Tool/equiment ID. This may be the case for expensive equipment such as jigs, portable test equipment etc.
To make a manufacturing tool instance subject to maintenance activities, it can be connected to an Object ID. When scheduling with APB and CBS, maintenance activities for a tool instance can be taken into account in the form of resource breaks. This may be the case e g for dies and fixtures.
For some tools, regular calibration needs to be performed. The manufacturing tool keeps track of the time between calibrations and the next calibration time for each tool instance.