The essential role of tool management in aircraft maintenance

Around 100,000 flights take off and land every day, around the world, transporting millions of people. There’s no doubt that the most stringent checks and procedures are needed in an industry where passenger and crew safety is of upmost importance. And as both recent scrutiny in the industry and historic events have shown, it takes just one incident or event to potentially endanger lives and cause commercial damage.

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) is a vital part of aviation engineering. The intricate procedures, and exacting standards of aircraft maintenance activities, demand meticulous attention to every detail. Tools are critical for MRO and in the aviation industry, effective tool management, including the use of tool management software, plays a direct role in ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. The availability, calibration, and condition of the right tools are crucial for maintenance and MRO success.

In aircraft maintenance, the following tasks, enhanced by efficient tool management and storage practices, are typically performed:

Tool Inventory Management:

• Cataloguing:

To keep track of the diverse array of aircraft maintenance tools, an exhaustive and well-organised inventory catalogue is necessary. It provides a comprehensive reference for audits and inspections to be carried out on time.

• Tracking and monitoring:

Utilising tool management software you can easily locate tools within large maintenance facilities. This reduces downtime and streamlines retrieval processes.

• Regular audits:

Regular auditing of tool inventories, facilitated by dedicated tool management software, ensures accuracy, identifies discrepancies, and prompts the timely correction of missing or misplaced tools. This contributes to a more efficient maintenance operation.

Tool Calibration and Certification:

• Calibration schedules:

Maintaining precision tools’ accuracy and reliability requires rigorous calibration schedules. A systematic approach ensures tools meet stringent aviation standards.

• Certification records:

As a part of the aviation maintenance process, it is imperative to maintain meticulous records of tool certifications. This is done by using tool management software as a regulatory requirement and to demonstrate a commitment to quality and safety.

Tool Control Procedures:

• Controlled access:

By implementing controlled access measures for critical and specialised tools, the unauthorised use risk can be mitigated. It enhances security and prevents errors that could compromise aircraft safety.

• Tool Check-Out System:

Robust tool management software, coupled with detailed tool usage documentation, promotes accountability, and ensures tools are used appropriately. This provides a comprehensive tool check-out system.

Safety and compliance:

• Compliance checks:

All tools must undergo rigorous checks to ensure compliance with aviation safety standards and regulatory requirements. Upholding the highest safety protocols in the aviation industry requires thorough documentation of safety certifications and inspections, facilitated by tool management software.

• Documentation:

As part of industry best practices, comprehensive documentation of safety compliance records, including tool calibration records, serves as a regulatory requirement and a basis for continuous improvement.

CRIBWISE is designed to enable the efficient and effective management of tooling, instrumentation, small components and other parts. It allows these individual assets to be tracked, stored, monitored at every step – with full traceability, enabling accurate auditing. Tools and other assets can be located more precisely, enabling MRO activities to be carried out more efficiently. Controlled access can be provided to these assets to enhance safety and mitigate risk. And the calibration, lifecycle and order management of these items can be automated, lessening manual administrative burdens and reducing the risk of human error.

Effective tool management, facilitated by cutting-edge tool management software, is more than just a matter of logistics in aircraft maintenance. It is an integral part of the aviation industry’s commitment to safety and excellence. Careful execution of these tasks ensures that every tool used in aircraft maintenance contributes to the overarching goal of maintaining airworthiness, upholding safety standards, and fostering operational efficiency in a dynamic and challenging environment such as aviation maintenance.

To learn more about specific features within CRIBWISE tooling inventory management software that can benefit aircraft maintenance in the ways discussed in this blog, click here: https://cribwise.com/features/