Tool management system to the rescue

“Where’s the tool? Who hasn’t put it back in the right place? There must be another one somewhere.” This is how Alexander Böthel from Adelmann Metallbearbeitung GmbH described the banter that was almost a daily occurrence and made work unnecessarily difficult. But that changed in February 2018.

Adelmann, Boxberg, Germany, is a contract manufacturer that specializes in the laboratory equipment sector using CNC turning and milling, waterjet cutting and other processes. The company manufactures prototypes, single parts, small batches and large-volume runs of up to 5,000 units in diameters up to 240mm.

Adelmann purchases some of its cutting tools from Arno-Werkzeuge Karl-Heinz Arnold GmbH, Ostfildern, Germany. (Arno-Werkzeuge USA LLC is in Harvard, Illinois.)

Adelmann’s Alexander Böthel (left) and Arno’s Simon Lang are in frequent contact and quickly resolve questions about the StoreManager Duo tool management system. Image courtey of Arno-Werkzeuge Karl-Heinz Arnold

Since its start in a garage in 2001, Adelmann has grown to occupy a 2,000-sq.-m facility. The increase in business and additions to the machine pool resulted in a considerable buildup in the number of tools. However, this also meant a drastic rise in tool search times. Furthermore, tools were stored in a locked cabinet. When an employee required a new tool, the foreman had to unlock the cabinet and issue the tool accordingly.

“The employee had to explain what job he wanted the tool for,” Böthel said. “It was bothersome for both the employee and for us foremen. But it was the only possibility to keep at least a little control over the use and location of tools.”

Stocks had to be updated by hand in a list to keep track of items, he added. Twice a month, the cabinets were checked, which took about two hours each time. Machines were frequently down when the right tool was not available. Even test gauges and thread gauges went missing. As a workaround, tables were posted on a magnet board to indicate the location of test equipment. But this method was prone to error.

A change was therefore urgently needed. Adelmann determined that a tool management system was the best solution. Three suppliers presented systems. The choice was made after a visit to Arno-Werkzeuge to see the flexibility of its StoreManager Duo.

The carousel system has over 360 individual compartments combined with four large drawers for managing measuring equipment and bigger items. The other suppliers did not have this capability. The system stores and reorders tools from Arno, as well as other suppliers.

The StoreManager Duo combines a carousel system for small parts with a drawer system for larger items. Image courtey of Arno-Werkzeuge Karl-Heinz Arnold

Arno offers its latest StoreManager Duo model through a lease purchase agreement, which allows Adelmann to test the system for two years to see whether it meets the company’s needs. The monthly rent includes service and maintenance costs, and a free hotline is available to respond to urgent questions.

Arno and Adelmann have collaborated for about 10 years. The level of trust between the companies is high, especially in the advice from Simon Lang, Arno’s sales engineer for tool management systems.