No more misplaced tools

[engineer2]

Interesting concept from Snap On. Machince vision to track what tools to take out and put back. I need this at home.

http://www1.snapon.com/Programs/Ass...lLevel5Program/AutomatedToolControlSystem.nws
and
http://www.ien.com/ienblog.aspx?id=163418

 

[american lockpicker]

Interesting. I once read that an airplane manufacturer put barcodes on all their tools and you checked them out similar to a book at a library.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Would love to know the price tag on that!

 

[jonny o]

I can usually tell what's missing. If the box would tell me where the hell I left the tools, that would be cool.

 

[eborcim]

I imagine it would help keep tool inventory where it belongs. Plus for employers that supply tools, it could be tied directly to a paycheck for reimbursement when tools are not returned. I would imagine aircraft manufacturers have a major headache keeping track of tools.

 

[BlindViper]

I can usually tell what's missing. If the box would tell me where the hell I left the tools, that would be cool.

I was thinking the same thing! All that box does is give you accountability.

 

[mrholeshot]

Holy High Tech Batman!!

 

[shanker]

Interesting. I once read that an airplane manufacturer put barcodes on all their tools and you checked them out similar to a book at a library.

yep....just like before they stitch a person up on the OR table, all tools must be accounted for

 

[mdbeck1]

I can usually tell what's missing. If the box would tell me where the hell I left the tools, that would be cool.

Just wait... Within a few years the GPS transmitters will be small enough to do this.

 

[Hamster]

I think on the new Ford F-150 they have something similar in the trck bed to prevent tool loss at the job site.

No idea if it works or not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Sync#Tool_Link

 

[shanker]

Just wait... Within a few years the GPS transmitters will be small enough to do this.

nope...wouldnt be cost effective in just a few years..but RFID is already cost effective if you work in aero-space

 

[rsanter]

the system looks for the shape of each tool
its really cool

bob

 

[2oolhound]

If someone checks a tool out and sits it down and someone else comes along and steals it the guy who checks it out looks guilty. The way laws work in favor of employees I don't think this will do a whole lot for this type of loss. You may even find more tools go missing.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I can usually tell what's missing. If the box would tell me where the hell I left the tools, that would be cool.

I agree, at least once a week I find myself missing something whether it be small or major, what a headache

 

[Regnar]

At work we check tool boxes 5 times a day. The midnight shift cant go home until all tools are in. No one can go to lunch until all tools are in. Day shift cant go home until all tools are in. Night shift cant go to dinner until all tools are in. Night shift cant go home until all tools are in.

Lets just say no one steals tools. If a tool comes up missing all hell breaks loose. All of our aircraft are grounded and the ones that are flying have to land immediately. Systematically all aircraft get inspected top to bottom. Trash cans get dumped and people end up going dumpster diving. It only gets worse from there.

To keep the math simple we have 30 tool boxes. (more like 40) 2 people are required to inventory the box of integrity reasons. Lets say it takes 5 minutes to roll it back, inventory and turn keys in.

30 tool boxes x 2= 60 people x 5 minutes = 300 minutes or 5 hours x 5 times a day = 25 man hours a day just checking tools.

Depending on what these boxes cost and if they actually work. This could save a company thousands.


Before you guys say its crazy to check tools 5 times a day just think of what is cost for 1 plane that crashes and all the lawsuits that will follow because of Ratchet.

 

[Grinder Bill]

Here at the refinery we all have picture ID with a RF chip embeded. The chip is used to access site, the fuel pumps, the computer network, take material out of the warehouse and to check out (bar-coded) tools from the tool crib. For common items i.e. gloves and flashlight batteries, there's vending machines that accept the card and a PIN...

 

[metal1313]

i was going to say this type of system has got to be geared towards the avaition industry and other highly sensitive professions. i would hate to see what happens when someone leaves a wrench in a jet engine.

this would also totally work in a hospital setting to ensure items arent left inside patients, which happens, not often but more than it should. i know that when i had some plates and pins installed on my ribs and again in my leg that multiple people had to check the serial numbers, count and recount the parts, and then had to make sure they had all the packaging before i was closed up. granted they had just been sued becuase a doc left a towel inside someone causing serious complications

 

[shanker]

i was going to say this type of system has got to be geared towards the avaition industry and other highly sensitive professions. i would hate to see what happens when someone leaves a wrench in a jet engine.

this would also totally work in a hospital setting to ensure items arent left inside patients, which happens, not often but more than it should. i know that when i had some plates and pins installed on my ribs and again in my leg that multiple people had to check the serial numbers, count and recount the parts, and then had to make sure they had all the packaging before i was closed up. granted they had just been sued becuase a doc left a towel inside someone causing serious complications

wont work in a Hospital...all the tools & items you described have to be hand counted before each procedure, and counted again by multiple people before the patient is closed up.

It does not look like an effective way to store sterile instruments either (I work in a hospital)

 

[Jononon]

 

[Sancho]

Foreign Object Damage is a big deal, there are a lot of industries where this is critical Aero and power-gen being the two that come to mind immediately.

I was amazed the first time I was contracting and had to check a 56" SO box out that was barcoded, it was impressive. When a tool showed up missing in the adjoining bay in the hanger it was a shitstorm like I have never seen.

 

[Garage_Mahal]

We nearly lost a major satellite recently due to FOD. Thankfully a back-up plan was hatched and the satellite is on its way to a full life.

 

[Monte]

 

[LEVE]

was going to say this type of system has got to be geared towards the avaition industry

IIRC, "Shadowing" of your tools in a tool box is an FAA requirement. This involves specifying a specific space for each tool. Kind of like Mom used to say about cleaning your room. Everything has it's place and everything should be in it's place.

The toolbox and drawers should be designed to quickly determine if a tool is missing, hence shadowing. You simply use some foam and cut out spots for each tool. A missing item is then outlined; it's quickly discovered as missing.

All the chip and RFID tagging is great, but it sure doesn't seem too practical for a guy like me, a shade-tree mechanic, who's got six boxes of varied tools all packed helter-skelter.

Shadowing seems a better way for me to go were I wanting to keep tight control over my miss-matched, mixed quality, tools. It's also a whole lot more economical a system than chipping and RFID'ing all the tools. But, a guy like me doesn't have an employer to provide the foam. That's a powerful lot of marking and cutting out foam outlines. Now if all my tools were Snap On, I may just change my mind. Till then, it's not worth the bother.

 

[1971willygote]

Yes this set up from snap on is awesome but how many average guys could afford to instal this system on their box. It is great for employers but the average craftsman needs a box that locks/unlocks itself for one maybe two people. I have a lock designed to mount to the front of any toolbox. A lot of guys already have automotive security installed on their box.
This lock can be hooked directly to the power door lock leads providing remote locking of the toolbox. This product is in the process of coming to market. To view the lock installed and in action just search "gotterbuiltboxlox1" which is my You Tube channel. Also there is a website which is gotterbuiltboxlox.com
It is not priced yet but I venture to say it will be more economical than others. I have a growing list of guys across the US interested in testing these for me.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I worked as a millright on several powerhouse steam turbine rebuilds, and all tools were inventoried when they entered the turbine room, and all hand tools had to be attached to your wrist with a lanyard when in use. Supposedly, a dropped tool into the sublevels of the turbine system was a million dollar teardown, and this was in the 70's.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

IIRC, "Shadowing" of your tools in a tool box is an FAA requirement.

There is no such across the board requirement. Some companies may write it in their manuals, which the FAA then approves, thus becoming FAA mandatory for that company, but NO, the FAA does not require this.

I work for a major air carrier, and am around dozens if not hundreds of tool boxes, probably not ten or fifteen that are shadowed, and those are because the owners came from somewhere else where it was required, such as an aircraft manufacturer.

Mine isn't. They don't make boxes big enough to shadow everything I have, it would take a 350 V8 to move it my box weighs somewhere just north of 1100 lbs.

Charles

 

[TwoInch]

my box weighs somewhere just north of 1100 lbs.

Charles

is that all?

 

[uniballer]

Just wait... Within a few years the GPS transmitters will be small enough to do this.

That I would buy!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

my box weighs somewhere just north of 1100 lbs.

is that all?

Except for the sheet metal mechanics with drawers full of bucking bars, various drills, rivet guns, etc, I have one of the heavier boxes on the hangar floor.

Aircraft mechanics don't have all the weird tools a auto mechanic has, they just don't need them. I have a lot more tools at home than I do at work.

Charles

 

[DT62]

is that all?

See:

You would be surprised how many tools we don't need.

A lot of line mechanics only have one or two of those little hand-portable toolboxes or tool bags. When I work line crew I can fit more tools than I really need in my toolbag:

 

[03protege]

I can usually tell what's missing. If the box would tell me where the hell I left the tools, that would be cool.

Depending on how RF technology evolves it may be doing that in the not so distant future.

 

[ATC]

They stole my username. I'll take a free unit and call it even on them stealing my registered trademark

 

[nanofrog]

I can usually tell what's missing. If the box would tell me where the hell I left the tools, that would be cool.

RTLS (Real Time Location System) already exists for such purposes. And it's even possible for it to locate the tool, not just tell the owner it's missing from the box (for box inventory alone, passive RFID would suffice).

BTW, now you're giving me ideas....

Just wait... Within a few years the GPS transmitters will be small enough to do this.

Possible now without the need for GPS.