Tool Utilization

Set up tools in ION and track where they are being used

Effective tool utilization is a key element to guarantee process integrity and product quality through manufacturing cycles.

Understanding which tool was utilized to complete a specific operation is essential in a regulated industry.

More important, guaranteeing the processes in place are enforced and the utilization of a compliant tool and assembly hardware is hard requirement for an operation guarantees success.

ION Tool Requirements Features include the following:

• Ability to set optional or required tools at a step level

• Ability to set tool validations at tool selection level, such as specifying the exact tool that must be used for an operation

See Diagram 1 below:

Diagram 1

How to Implement Tool Requirements in ION:

Step 1: Complete Tool/Operation Analysis

• List all operations in your manufacturing process.

• Identify and list all tools required to perform your manufacturing operations

• Map each operation with their corresponding tool requirement(s)

Step 2: Complete Tool Maintenance Analysis

• Identify and list the maintenance cycle and criteria for each tool necessary for your manufacturing processes.

Step 3: Incorporate all Tool requirements and validations identified during the Tool/Operation analysis into the necessary ION procedures.

• Create a Field Type: Tool at each step/operation necessary. See Image 1 below:

Image 1

• Set the proper validations and requirements for the tool field. This is the stage where you tell ION if a tool MUST be used for an operation, if so, which tool(s) can be used.

By completing the above tasks, your organization will:

• Identify any gaps between your tool inventory and operation requirements

• Enforce the utilization of a tool at an operation level

Tool Visualization in ION

• Track the following Tool Inventory attributes via ION Analytics:

  • Tool

  • Serial Number

  • Location

  • Service Due Date

  • Last Service Date

  • Service Interval

  • URI - Universal Resource Identifier

  • Status - Available/Unavailable

Tool Management Reports

• Automate the delivery of tool inventory reports based on specific parameters, such as cadence or specific conditions. For example:

  • Get a weekly report on all your tools automatically sent to the tool manager in your organization.

  • Never miss a calibration or maintenance date for your tool inventory by get a report of tools 2 weeks prior to their service due date.

  • Get a report of the tool inventory that is currently unavailable and requires maintenance and/or re-calibration.

  • Get a report of tools that have been 'Unavailable' for a certain period of time.

Future Development:

• Automatically kick off a maintenance run for a tool based on its 'Service Due Date'

• Automatically adjust the 'Last Service Date' for a tool after completing a Maintenance run for a tool.

The latter is a process that can be implemented through an automation. Reach out to us if interested!