Businesses operating in machine shops, fabrication facilities, and precision engineering need to track, store, and manage a diverse range of tools, machinery, and small assets used in the production of high-precision components and custom-made parts. Ensuring these items are readily available, properly maintained, and in optimal working condition is critical to maintaining smooth daily operations and meeting tight production schedules.
By efficiently managing these assets, businesses can reduce operational costs, enhance safety standards, minimize downtime caused by equipment failure, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and improve overall performance. Effective asset management also ensures that high-value tools and machinery are properly calibrated and maintained, thereby extending their lifespan and improving precision. This comprehensive approach helps machine shops and fabrication facilities meet production targets, reduce operational risks, and optimize resource utilization, ultimately supporting higher-quality outputs and customer satisfaction.
Typical tools and small asset inventory used by engineers in machine shops and precision engineering include:
| Inventory Type | Examples | Management Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Precision measuring instruments | Calipers (Vernier, Digital, Micrometer), height gauges, surface plates, Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) | Regular calibration, tracking of inspection records, effective and protective storage |
| Cutting tools and tooling inserts | End mills, drills (HSS, Carbide), turning inserts, thread taps and dies. | Usage and wear monitoring, inventory tracking and control, proper storage, easy yet secure accessibility. |
| CNC machine tools and accessories | Tool holders and chucks, rotary tables and indexer, coolants. | Preventive maintenance management, usage logs, spare parts inventory management |
| Jigs and fixtures | Custom jigs, fixtures, clamps. | Inspection records for wear and tear, inventory control and availability, documentation of custom designs and any modifications for repeat jobs. |
| Safety equipment and PPE | Protective gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, respirators and masks. | Inventory control and automated restocking, compliance records to ensure all safety standards are met and maintained. |
| Fasteners and small components | Bolts, nuts, screws, fasteners, O-rings, seals, bearings, bushings. | Inventory management to track usage and reorder based on consumption patterns, proper storage organized by size/type to prevent mix-ups. |
| Lubricants and coolants | Cutting oils and lubricants, coolants. | Monitoring usage, ensuring supplies are stocked and properly rotated. |
| Hand tools | Wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, mallets, files and sanders. | Lifecycle management, storage organization, tracking usage and utilization. |
| Testing and inspection equipment | Hardness testers, Microscopes, magnification tools, laser alignment tools. | Calibration management, usage logs, storage and handling protection. |
CRIBWISE – Tool & Inventory Management Software
for Machine Shops and Precision Engineering
CRIBWISE, part of Sandvik Group, is a proven tooling and inventory management software that streamlines the management of cutting tools, hand tools, instrumentation, spare parts, consumables and PPE by providing full traceability and accurate auditing of these assets.
-
Enables precise tracking, storage, and monitoring of specialized tools, precision machinery, and high-value materials. This ensures that tools and equipment are always available and ready for use, reducing downtime and production delays.
-
Provides controlled access to critical tools and precision assets, improving safety standards and minimizing the risk of damage, misuse, or loss.
-
Automates calibration schedules, lifecycle management, and inventory replenishment. This reduces manual workloads, minimizes human error, and ensures that all assets are properly maintained, extending their lifespan and ensuring consistent performance in high-stakes production environments.
Benefits of using CRIBWISE
Reduce the amount of capital tied up in tooling inventory
Prevent overstocking and reduce the cost
Get an insight into inventory usage and trends
Track your inventory in real time
Optimize tooling utilization across workers, teams and functions
Know what tools need replacing or maintenance and when
Reduce the time wasted in manually searching for tools
Minimize tool misplacement
Quickly and easily pinpoint tool consumption
Allocate tools on a per-work order basis
Automate & streamline the purchase ordering process
Minimize administrative tasks and improve efficiency
Request a demo
Request a free demonstration of CRIBWISE and discover how you can benefit in your operations.
Success in Action: Our role in improving our customers’ operational efficiency
CRIBWISE reduces the time operatives at Fårbo Mekaniska spend looking for tools by 2000 hours a year and cuts the size of its inventory by SEK700,000-1,000,000.
