Toolroom module — tooling synced with production
Dies, molds and other tooling are assets that work on your machines — yet they often live outside any system: no history, no inspection schedule, “pulled” into repairs at the last minute. The new toolroom module in SimplyMobile CMMS ties tooling into the production and maintenance plan. We have just completed 3 parallel deployments.
What the toolroom module is
The toolroom module is part of SimplyMobile CMMS that brings order to production tooling — dies, molds and tools mounted on machines. Instead of knowledge scattered “in people’s heads”, it gives you one register and full control:
- Tooling register — dies, molds and tools with their parameters and machine assignment.
- Location and mounting spots — where a tool is installed now and where it can run.
- Issue and return — who took it, for how long, for which order.
- Calibrations and legalizations — deadlines with alerts, no inspection slips through.
- QR / RFID / barcode identification — scan instead of searching and rewriting.
- Stock and availability — what’s free, in use, or being reconditioned.
- Links to orders and the production plan — a tool “sees” its repair orders and its place in the schedule.
- Costs and history — a full record: usage, repairs, costs over time.
How it works in practice
Shop-floor staff work fast and paper-free, while management happens in the browser:
- Mobile app with scanning — issue, return and report a problem in seconds.
- Optional panel/kiosk in the toolroom — an on-site station for handling issues.
- Management from the browser (web) — setup, inspections, reports and costs.
Deployments: 3 plants, one shared problem
We rolled the module out in parallel at three plants — from the food, heavy and window-manufacturing industries. Despite the different sectors, the challenge was the same: tooling operated outside any system. In practice this meant:
- no synchronization of tooling with production,
- no tool history,
- tooling outside the mechanics’ work plan,
- mechanics pulled from current tasks into “right now” repairs instead of planned work.
What changes (before → after)
| Before deployment | After the module |
|---|---|
| Tooling outside the system, knowledge “in people’s heads” | One register: dies, molds and tools with a full record |
| No tool history | Full history: usage, repairs, costs, calibrations |
| Repairs and regrinds done “right now” | Inspections and regrinds planned in advance |
| Mechanics pulled from current work | Work on tooling in the mechanics’ plan |
| Tools out of sync with production | Tooling tied into the production plan and orders |
Benefits
- Fewer unplanned stoppages — regrinds and inspections done ahead of time, not during a breakdown.
- Calmer work for mechanics — tooling tasks are planned, not “firefighting”.
- Full accountability and history — you know where a tool is, who has it and what happened to it.
- Calibration deadlines under control — alerts instead of misses and quality risk.
- No more searching — a QR/RFID scan instead of walking the floor.
- Costs under control — the real cost of maintaining tooling over time.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the toolroom module different from a plain tool store?
It manages tooling that works on machines (dies, molds) and links it to the production plan and repair orders, rather than just tracking stock levels.
- Is it a separate system?
No — it’s part of SimplyMobile CMMS. It shares orders, the plan and data with the rest of maintenance, so tooling is visible where decisions about machine work are made.
- How do workers use the module on the floor?
With a mobile app and QR/RFID scanning; optionally a panel in the toolroom. Setup, inspections and reports are handled from the browser.
- How does the module keep on top of calibrations and legalizations?
Every tool has deadlines with alerts. An upcoming inspection generates a task in the work plan before the tool expires — with no risk to quality or production continuity.
- How long does deployment take?
Usually 1–3 months, depending on scope and plant size. The three plants described were rolled out in parallel; setup is done in the browser and we import the starting data. The best way to begin is a demo where we show the module on your own example.
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