Manufacturing Tool

A manufacturing tool represents any type of equipment used in manufacturing and quality control, such as measurement tools, dies, jigs, fixtures or test equipment. A tool group ID represents a group of tools and equipment with the same functional characteristics. Individual tools or equipment items represent the physical resources. Tool types group tool groups with similar characteristics.
Manufacturing tools have the following uses and functions.

Routings and Shop Order Operations

On routings and shop order operations, tool group IDs can be added to indicate a demand for tools. It is possible to specify which tool/equipment within the tool group should be used in the shop order operation by assignment. Both adding tool group demands and assigning tool/equipment provide useful information to the operator and offer planning opportunities. A manufacturing tool group can also be connected to usage guidelines. Additionally, tool usage can be reported making it possible to follow up on the use of the tools.

Control Plans and Analyses

As with routings and shop order operations, the tool group ID provides the operator with information about 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.

Constraint based scheduling

When scheduling shop order operations with APB and CBS, tools may be considered finite resources. This means that the operation cannot be scheduled unless an instance of the required tool is available during the operation.

Calibration

Some tools require regular calibration. Calibration requirements and intervals are defined for each individual tool or equipment item. This makes it possible to follow up on calibration status and ensure availability.

External Setup and Teardown Time

Some tools and equipment require preparation before use and follow-up activities after use in a shop order operation. These activities can include cleaning, inspection, lubrication, assembly, or disassembly.
External setup time represents the preparations needed before the tool is used. Teardown time represents the activities needed after the tool has been used. These activities are separate from the machine setup and run time and can typically be performed in parallel while the machine is running another operation.

When external setup time and teardown time are defined for a tool group, these values are used to create resource activities, loads, and allocations when the tool group is included as a demand in a shop order operation and when a tool or equipment is assigned.