11.2 Tool Master

Cutters, fixtures, measuring implements, die and moulds are all properties of the enterprise. They can be purchased from outside vendors, or self manufactured and assembled. These tools are called manufacturing “Tools” and they are managed in the “Tool Master” sub module. 

You can consider a “Tool” as a special type of “Part,” so managing Tools is quite similar to managing Parts. In “Tool Master,” you can create Tool profiles, set up inventory and then trace from acquisition to return. You can also purchase, sell, and manufacture Tools. Proper management of the “Tool Master” and assuring its regular function will improve the manufacturing activity of your enterprise, and help to avoid monetary losses due to losing or random placement of tools. 

In this Chapter, you will learn how to add Tools and search for Tools by various conditions. 

11.2.1 Add Tool

Open the “General” tab under “Manufacturing Box – Tool Master.” Here you can add a Tool. Click “2Add Tool” to enter the adding interface. You need to fill the following information:

Tool Number: Self-defined tool number; required 

Revision: the Revision of the Tool; default revision is “A”

Tool Type: the same as Part Type, which can be added in the Control Panel

Tool UOM: the same as Part UOM, which can be added in the Control Panel; required 

Tool Description: Description includes the keywords for searching

After filling in the required information, click “2Add” to open the “Update Tool” interface. Similar to “Update Part,” the Tool’s profile also includes 5 criteria: Basic information, Manufacturer, Vendor, Inventory, and Language Descriptions.

11.2.1.1 Basic Information

11.2.1.2 Manufacturer

The Tool’s Manufacturer is the party that manufactured the Tool. Usually, a Tool has an original number from the Manufacturer that can be recorded in the Tool’s Manufacturer information. 

Click “Add” to add a new Manufacturer of a Tool. In the pop up window, complete the following information:

MFG ID: Click the arrow to choose a MFG ID; MFG ID should be added in the Address Box.

MFG Name: MFG Name is related to MFG ID

MPN: Fill in the Tool’s original part number

Q: Fill in the Manufacturer’s quality certification

R: Fill in the Manufacturer’s quality level

P: Indicate whether this manufacturer has priority in purchasing this Tool

S: Indicate whether this manufacturer has priority in sales of this Tool 

Click “OK” to submit a Manufacturer. 

Edit: Select a Manufacturer and click “Edit” to update a Manufacturer’s information

Delete: Select a Manufacturer and click “Delete” to delete a Manufacturer

Delete All: Multi-select Manufacturers and click “Delete All” to delete all Manufacturers

11.2.1.3 Vendor

A Tool’s vendor can also be its manufacturer, or solely a vendor. You can add a Tool’s vendor information by clicking the “Add” button:

Select a Vendor ID to enter the updating interface. Vendor ID should first be added in the Address Box.

Q: Fill in the Vendor’s quality certification.

R: Fill in the Vendor’s quality level.

P: Indicate whether to give priority to purchasing from this Vendor.  

Price: Fill in the price of this Tool purchased from this Vendor.

Currency: Fill in the currency of the above price.

Effective Date: Fill in the effective date of the above price.

Lead Time: Enter a vendor’s lead time to this Tool.

RFQ#: Enter our RFQ# when purchasing this Tool from this Vendor.

Click the “OK” button to add this Vendor. 

Edit: Select a Vendor and click “Edit” to update a Vendor’s information.

Delete: Select a Vendor and click “Delete” to delete a Vendor.

Delete All: Multi-select Vendors and click “Delete All” to delete all vendors.

11.2.1.4 Inventory

Check the “Setup Inventory” box to establish inventory for this Tool:

P/C/O/E Code: This field is reserved; it is not used in the system yet.

D Code: Tool’s discount code 

Onhand: Tool’s actual inventory in the warehouse. The system will update the quantity automatically. Generally, users don’t need to change it. If needed, you can go to “Accounting module->Inventory->Update Inventory by Tool #” to adjust it.

In WIP: The Tool’s quantity put into production. 

On Loan: The Tool quantity borrowed on a loan order.

InQA: The Tool quantity in the quality inspection area, created by NCR. Click the button to see all QA Tool’s location information.

On Demand: The Tool’s quantity demanded, which is calculated from sales order(s) and work order(s). If

100 of Tool A are sold, then Tool A’s demand quantity will increase by 100; when a work order is created for 100 Tool A, then the demand of Tools which are used to assemble or produce Tool A will also increase.

On Order: The Tool’s order quantity. This is the Tool quantity in PO or quantity in WO, but not received by the warehouse yet.

Min Qty: The Tool’s minimum inventory quantity, or safety stock. This can be defined according to the company’s situation.

Max Qty: The Tool’s maximum inventory quantity. This can be defined according to the company’s situation.

Lead Time: Periods the Tool needs to be delivered to customer. The unit is days and can be self-defined.

Quarter Usage: The average Tool usage in the last quarter, calculated by the system.

Year Usage: The Tool usage in the last year, calculated by the system.

List Price: The Tool’s list price; the original price without any discount. 

Std Cost: The Tool’s standard cost; it is standard reference cost or planned cost set by the user.

Avg Cost: The Tool’s average cost, calculated and maintained based on purchasing or manufacturing cost by the system automatically.

Last PO Cost: The Tool’s purchasing price in the last purchasing order in the system.

Last PO#: The last PO# the Tool is related to in the system.

Tool Class: Used for physical inventory. Use ABC classification method to set a Tool’s counting cycle. Tool class can be added in the “Warehouse - Physical Inventory - Cycle Count” Module. 

11.2.1.5 Language Descriptions

You can add both English and Chinese Descriptions for a Tool. Click “2Add” to select a new language:

Select a language and then fill in the description in the blank area:

Click “OK” to finish:

11.2.1.6 Operations on Tool Properties Interface

Calibration: CLICK “+”to add a calibration record for this Tool.

Traceable: this function is not available for Tools.

Has BOM: Select if this Tool has a BOM. If it does not, click “+” to create one.

Has Drawing: Select if this Tool has a drawing.

Has Work Instruction: Select if this Tool has Work Instructions.

Hold: Select if this Tool has a hold.

Saleable: This function is not available for Tools.

Where Used: Click to see all BOMS where the tools is used. 

All PO: Click to see all Purchase Orders that contain this Tool Item.

11.2.2 Look Up & Search Tool

11.2.2.1 2Search Tool

2Lookup Tool

This is the basic lookup function. Input a complete Tool# and click this button to view the Tool’s properties.

2Search Tool

This is the basic search function by Tool#. Input keywords of the Tool# to search for related Tools.

2Search by Description (Contain)

This is the function to search for Tools by keywords that are contained in the Tool Description. Input keywords and click this button to search for related Tools. 

2Search by Description (Start With)

This is the function to search for Tools by keywords that the Tool Description starts with. Input keywords and click this button to search for related Tools.

2Lookup Where Used

This is the function to lookup BOMs that contain this Tool. Input an accurate Tool#, select the correct tool type, and click this button to view results.

2Search by Mfg Part#

Mfg Part# can be added in Tool Properties. You can search for Tools by inputting keywords of the Tool’s Mfg Part# here.

2Search by Mfg ID

A tool’s Mfg ID can be added in Tool Properties. You can search for Tools by inputting keywords of the Tool’s Mfg ID here.

11.2.2.2 Reports

Tool On Hold

Click this button to view all Tools that are on hold. You should hold the Tool in the Manufacturing ECN. In the search results, you can click “Rev” to open the MECN.  

Tool With Tool List

Click this button to view all Tools in the system that have Tool Lists. At the search results, click “√” to view related information.

Tool With WI

Click this button to view all Tools in the system that have WIs. At the search results, click “√” to view related information.

Tool With Drawing

Click this button to view all Tools in the system that have Drawings. At the search results, click “√” to view related information.

Inactive Tool

Click this button to view all Tools that are on hold. 

11.2.3 Inactive Tools

Similar to Parts, Tools that are not for current use can be locked to avoid mis-operation. 

To lock a Tool, click the Recycle Bin button beside the Tool Number in the Tool Properties:

An inactive Tool cannot have inventory, Tool Lists, or Orders. To reactivate a Tool, click the lock button next to the Tool Number: