Tool Control in Civil Aviation 

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Institution

Abstract

Tool control is an essential practice for managing tools to avoid loss of tools and accidents related to tools in planes. Due to the importance of tool control, most aircraft maintenance firms have institute different approaches to tool control, this papers explores the approached and their advantages. The methods include tool identification, tool shadowing, tool inspection, API, RFID tool Control, tool inventory, and reporting missing tools.

Introduction

To control is basically management of tools. Control of tools is a critical activity has unquestionable benefits as far as security is concerned. Forgetting a tool in a plane or engine not only inconvenience the engineer but also pose a great danger to the plane. As a result, plane maintenance firms institutionalize procedure for tool control to be observed by their engineers (AviatopmPross.com, 2012). Developing and enforcing tool control protocols beings about numerous benefits, the greatest one being safety. This paper will discourse several practices and ideas intrinsic to a reliable tool control policy.

Activities involved in tool control

Too control involves quickly establishing and accounting for all tools after a maintenance task. It is done by allocating each tool its own position in the storage box to facilitate easy identification of a missing tool in case any is missing. This is done through several ways; tool identification, tool shadowing, tool inspection, API, RFID tool Control, tool inventory, and reporting missing tools.

Tool identification

Employee or engineers can also place permanent marks on their tools to be used for identification. This facilitates swift identification of the owner of a tool when it is recovered. Tools can be marked using a vibra-pen tool. It must be noted that popular making like permanent marker as not productive in the hanger environment. The makings on the tools can range from anything like the workers names initials to the first digits of their social security number. It is advisable to avoid employee company numbers since this may inconvenience to the employee. For instance, if the employee switches to another company, the marking may become irrelevant. In this regard, all company specific marking should be avoided. Marking tool fulfills two significant aspects of tool control reporting of missing tools and returning recovered tools to the owners. It reduces the tendency of employees going to buy replacements without reporting the missing tools (Chapman, 2007).

Tool Shadowing

Tool shadowing involves designating a specific position for every tool. The positions should be design in a manner that allows quick identification of a missing too. This mother often employs a foam product that has spots curved out for each tool. The foam product is hung on hooks, or pegboard on the tool room wall. The items are afterwards outlined and shadowed.

Tool Inspection

Tool inspection is very significant activity which unfortunately can be easily be overlooked. Tool must be thoroughly inspected prior to working and after working to ensure that they are in a proper working shape and that there are no parts missing. Failure to conduct tool inspection can result in leaving parts of tools in the working area. Therefore, the main aims of tool inspection is to ensure proper working conditions and ensure that piece or parts of tools which can cause harm are not left on the plane after routine maintenance activities (Roussos, 2005).

Tool inventory

Tool inventory should be conducted frequently to indentify any missing tools and initiate a search for it before it causes any harm on a plane. This can be conducted after each task or be scheduled as a daily routine. Most companies however, prefer conducting it before and after shifts.

Reporting of missing tools

Reporting missing tools is an important component of tool control. Reporting of missing tool serves to enhance the practice of accounting for all tools to ensure plane safety. In this regard most plane maintenance firms strive to inculcate a culture of missing tool reporting in their employees. The should be a clears system of inventorying missing tools, the manner in which the mechanics report missing tools and the protocol that is followed to recover or locate a missing tool. The important part of this inventorying is liaising with the person in charge of releasing the plane in the event that the missing tools are not recovered.

API

Electronic Supply Program is yet another instrument introduced by API. The program is internet based and employs hand held barcode readers and enables users to automate their inventory control as well as parts replenishment. The software has a tool control ability that enables tracking of tools in regard to the desires of customers. It can further calibrate the requirements of a tool alert the user of the calibration date via email.

RFID tool Control

This is a technique introduced by 3M. The method entails the uses of radio frequency identification (RFID) tool. This tool has a tracking system, tracking software, RFID hand held tools, and labels with RFID tags. Although this system is still new it is more successful in recovering lost tool that any other tools control approach. The tool will bring efficiency in many other tool control practices not just recovering lost tools (Kern Electronics & Lasers, Inc 2005).

Conclusion

Tool control is a critical factor and in order to realize success, every company must adopt an approach that is in line with its objectives. There are various approaches to tool control that companies can choose from. Tool control is and indispensable practice which ensures convenient use of tools by ensuring that they are always available and that, they are in a proper working condition. Most important is the safety of the passengers and the plane. Tools can cause serious damages other plant leading to injury or loss of life through plane accident.

References

Aerospace Products International. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.aviationpros.com/article/10385420/ tool-control

AviatopmPross.com. (2005).Tool Control. Retrieved from http://www.aviationpros.com/article/10385420/tool-control

Chapman, Robert J. Simple tools and techniques for enterprise risk management. Chichester : Wiley, 2011.

Kern Electronics & Lasers, Inc. (2012). Tool Foam Cutting. Retrieved form http://www.kernlasers.com/showcase/tool_etching_foam_cutting.htm

Roussos, George. Ubiquitous and pervasive commerce: new frontiers for electronic business. London : Springer, 2006.