Tool control is a measure of ensuring safety, efficiency, improved productivity and savings within the factory or workplace environment, especially in the aerospace and automotive fields. With a simple and highly effective method of instantly seeing that all of the required tools for the required job are in place, work can begin in the knowledge that the job or shift should be free of any tooling issues.
The benefits of having properly organised tool storage and control include:
To assist in the effectiveness of tool control, the foam drawer or tool cabinet inserts are often made in dual colour material. This makes it even quicker to see if a tool is not in position. The original ‘shadow boards’ do indeed seem to throw a shadow in the empty pocket space when the foams are used in a single colour, but with dual coloured foams it is much more visually definite. The foams used for tool control trays will usually be of a closed cell nature, and the most consistent foams to use are part of the Azote family of foams - Plastazote. Plastazote is a cross-linked expanded polyethylene, and it is this cross-linking of the individual cells which gives it extra strength, uniformity and durability whilst offering optimum cushioning properties. Plastazote foam inserts are resistant to oils and chemicals and can be laser marked at each individual pocket to identify the tool or part by number or size as added security. Company logos can also be engraved.