A High-Tech Toolbox ...

FOD control by Snap-on Last month I attended an event in Dallas, Texas, hosted by Snap-on Tools.  Some 500 Snap-on Industrial staff were there attending a variety of activities such as sales sessions, technical seminars, and more. A large display area showcased some of the latest products from Snap-on. The Level 5 ATC tool control system was highlighted as the latest product from Snap-on designed to control the issue of tools and eliminate potential foreign object damage (FOD) in a maintenance or production environment that may be caused by lost or unaccounted for tools. This high-tech toolbox records transactions including who removed a tool, when it was removed, when it was replaced, identifies that correct tools are placed back in the correct drawer location, which items are missing, and much more. The system can be programmed to provide numerous amounts of user data. The system also has the ability to identify if a tool is broken when replaced in the toolbox drawer and can track calibration intervals for those items that are part of a calibration program. The Level 5 ATC system may not be in your future or applicable to all aircraft maintenance organizations but in certain applications I can see the benefits. Technology has come to the toolbox. Watch the short video of the day spent at the Snap-on event. Ron