Toolmaking

Backbone of modern manufacturing industry

Toolmaking forms the backbone of the modern manufacturing industry. At a time when precision and efficiency are crucial to a company's success, tools play an indispensable role in the manufacture of products. From the automotive sector to the electronics industry, high-quality tools are crucial for productivity and quality assurance.

tl;dr Toolmaking is of crucial importance in modern manufacturing. Efficient tools increase productivity, reduce costs and improve product quality. The integration of modern technologies such as CAD/CAM, CNC and Industry 4.0 has revolutionized tool manufacturing and promises even more exciting developments in the future. Overall, tool manufacturing will continue to play a central role in making the manufacturing industry more efficient, flexible and competitive.

Tools according to production requirements

Customized production

One crucial aspect is the customized production of tools for specific manufacturing requirements. Every industry has its own requirements for tools, be it for stamping metal parts or molding plastics. Toolmaking adapts to these requirements and develops solutions that optimize the production process and guarantee the quality of the end products.

Another important area is continuous improvement in tool design and manufacturing processes. By using the latest materials and technologies, tools are becoming ever more efficient and durable. This not only contributes to cost efficiency, but also enables companies to keep pace with constantly changing market requirements.

Lightweight tools and sustainability principle

Progressive development

One example of the ongoing development in tool manufacturing is the introduction of lightweight tools that have been specially developed for processing modern materials such as composites. These tools enable manufacturers to produce lighter yet more robust products, which is crucial in many industries, particularly in the aerospace sector.

Another important trend in toolmaking is the integration of sustainability principles. As environmental awareness increases, companies are looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint. This includes tool manufacturing, where measures to reduce waste, energy efficiency and recyclability of tools are becoming increasingly important.

In the modern manufacturing world, it is crucial that tool manufacturing works closely with other areas of production, such as product development and quality assurance. Close integration makes it possible to identify potential problems at an early stage and develop solutions before they affect production processes.

Overall, toolmaking is a dynamic and constantly evolving field that is crucial to the success of the manufacturing industry. Through continuous innovation and adaptability, tool manufacturing helps to increase efficiency, improve product quality and strengthen the competitiveness of companies worldwide.

Why is toolmaking important in manufacturing?

Toolmaking involves the manufacture of tools that are used in production to manufacture products. These tools range from simple fixtures to highly complex machines and molds. Here are some reasons why tool manufacturing is becoming increasingly important in production:

Increased efficiency: Efficient tools enable products to be manufactured faster and more precisely. Through continuous improvements in toolmaking, manufacturing companies can optimize their production processes and shorten throughput times.
Cost savings: Well-designed tools can reduce production costs by cutting material consumption and reducing the reject rate. By investing in high-quality tools, manufacturers can achieve considerable savings in the long term.
Quality improvement: Precisely manufactured tools ensure consistent product quality. They minimize deviations and ensure that every product manufactured meets quality standards. This leads to satisfied customers and strengthens the brand image.
Flexibility and adaptability: In a rapidly changing manufacturing environment, flexibility is crucial. By using modern tool technologies, manufacturers can quickly adapt their production systems to new requirements and efficiently produce different products.
Innovation and competitiveness: Toolmaking enables manufacturers to develop innovative production methods and achieve competitive advantages. By integrating new materials and production techniques, companies can differentiate their products and assert themselves in a highly competitive market.

Technology of modern tool production

Distribution of roles

Advancing technology is playing a crucial role in the transformation of tool manufacturing in production. Modern CAD/CAM software enables engineers to create and simulate complex tool designs before they go into production. CNC machines and 3D printers offer precise manufacturing capabilities and significantly reduce production times.

In addition, the introduction of Industry 4.0 principles has revolutionized tool manufacturing. Smart tools equipped with sensors can collect and analyze data in real time to optimize performance and predict maintenance needs. The networking of tools and production equipment enables seamless communication and improves overall manufacturing efficiency.

Future trends

Forecast

The future of toolmaking in manufacturing continues to promise exciting developments. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning will make toolmaking even smarter by automatically optimizing and reacting to changing production conditions.

In addition, additive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing will open up new possibilities in toolmaking. Rapid prototyping and the production of complex geometries will shorten innovation cycles and improve time-to-market.

Overall, toolmaking will continue to play a central role in the manufacturing industry by driving efficiency, quality and innovation.

Toolmaking

Our tetys solution

The tetys toolmaking module offers a comprehensive solution for planning, recording and analyzing deadlines and costs. Orders are created using master data or experience systems and include header data, parts list items and operations, which are efficiently distributed to machines and staff using a graphical planning board. The system takes time dependencies into account and enables deadline calculations based on operating calendars and shift models. In addition, material and personnel costs are calculated and actual working times are recorded, which enables dynamic post-calculation. The module also offers various evaluations and optimization tools as well as interfaces to other systems such as ERP and tool management for seamless integration and increased efficiency in toolmaking.

Your advantages

Optimized workflows

Clear presentation of deadlines and costs

Intuitive operation

High flexibility

Planning board

Graphical planning board for machines and employees
Sequential and parallel scheduling
Resource planning with operating calendars, shift models and exception times
Forward scheduling and backward scheduling
Planning with priorities and express orders
Calculation of machine, personnel and material costs
Experience system with classification via decision tree
Shift planning (early/late/night) with vacation schedule
Gantt chart, capacity utilization chart, production cost analysis
Delivery date analysis, bottleneck analysis, deployment plan

Registration/deregistration

Registration of machines and persons
Login via Windows software or Internet browser
Connection to time recording system possible
Dynamic post-calculation
Planning and recording of machine maintenance
Recording of material costs (material management)

Hall diagram

Current status of all resources: production/malfunction/failure
Symbol evaluations: Set-up, programming, execution, costs
Details on orders, work plans and parts lists

Interfaces

Import of orders from ERP system (SAP)
Confirmation of working times to ERP system (SAP)
Creation of orders for tool notification in tool management
Reporting tool availability to PDA planning board (integration of modules)

Conclusion

Toolmaking has become an indispensable part of the modern manufacturing industry. From the automotive industry to electronics manufacturing, high-quality tools play a central role in the manufacture of products. The importance of toolmaking lies in its ability to provide efficient, customized solutions for specific manufacturing requirements.

Toolmaking has evolved through continuous innovation and technological progress and is now more efficient than ever. Modern materials, advanced manufacturing processes and the integration of sustainability principles characterize the current state of toolmaking and will continue to be important drivers in the future.

Close cooperation between toolmaking and other areas of production, such as product development and quality assurance, is crucial to a company's success. Through this collaboration, potential problems can be identified and solved at an early stage, leading to improved efficiency and product quality.

Overall, toolmaking is a dynamic and changing field that makes a significant contribution to increasing the productivity, quality and competitiveness of companies. Through continuous investment in research and development and the promotion of innovation, toolmaking will continue to play a key role in the manufacturing industry in the future.

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