FROM THE PUBLISHER
GET YOUR TOOLS UNDER CONTROL!
In recent discussions with mechanics in the industry and some of the tool suppliers that provide tools and storage units to aircraft mechanics, I fi nd that the quest to get aircraft mechanics tools under control is not one that everyone embraces. In fact, in some maintenance facilities, the concept of tool control is still downright ignored. Let’s face it — we all know intuitively
PUBLISHER
GREG NAPERT
gnapert@DOMmagazine.com
that leaving one tool behind on an aircraft can take down an aircraft. For some of us it’s our worst nightmare, to the point that I’ve even heard mechanics say that they would not put their initials on their tools because they would get in trouble if someone happens to fi nd a left-behind wrench or socket. This is a troubling statement by itself. Whether or not we admit it, people are generally like sheep. We often follow or do things because other people do them or because we have the “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality. Add to that the fact that many mechanics spend thousands of dollars on their tools and boxes. There is a great deal of reluctance to turn control of their boxes over to the company, let alone wheel them home to their garage and replace them with a company tool program. Plus, many maintenance facilities see the purchase of hand tools and an integrated tool program as an unnecessary expense since mechanics already have their own tools. That’s unfortunate. The cost of not putting a tool control program in place can (and likely will) someday far exceed the cost of not having a tool control program. It’s just a matter of time. We are human and we make mistakes. One aircraft accident that can be traced back to a left-behind tool can easily mean the end of your career, if not the loss of the entire company.
It’s interesting the diff erent levels of application of tool control I see as I travel. In Europe, mechanics don’t buy their own tools because the company does. There is less resistance to developing a tool control program because of this. Tool control is accepted because it’s just always done that way.
That’s what we need to do in North
America. We have to make tool control a part of doing business — but it’s easier said than done. Mechanics are not likely to implement their own tool program by themselves. This needs to come from the top — either in the form of providing the necessary tools, or providing the necessary equipment needed to make it happen. Tool control does not have to be
expensive! Something as simple as having your maintenance people shadow all tool boxes and every drawer can be done by at a low cost. Why not take it a step further? Have it done professionally, or better yet, purchase an existing tool control program — even a computer-based system that will integrate tool control into your operation seamlessly. There are lots of sources and support in the industry, and D.O.M. magazine even has a couple of advertisers (to include Brown Tool, Snap-On, and Kool1 LLC) that can help. And speaking of advertisers, I would like to thank our advertisers for their support for 2016. This is our last 2016 issue for D.O.M. magazine and it has defi nitely our best year yet. All indications so far are that next year will even be better. I hope you continue to enjoy reading
D.O.M. as much as we continue to enjoy publishing it!
Thanks for reading! Greg Napert, Proud to be an A&P
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DOMmagazine.com | dec 2016 jan 2017
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