Tool Control Essay Example

it at the beginning and end of each shift. In order to achieve the goal of accounting for all tools to ensure a safe product for the squadrons we support or “customers”, a culture must be present that encourages employees to report any missing or broken tool. This procedure should be clear as to how often tools need to be inventoried, how the maintainer should report a missing tool, and the steps to be taken once a missing or broken tool is reported.

Tool control is one element in a complete FOD prevention program. Tool control has been specifically designed to be used hand in hand with FOD prevention systems and procedures. Important part of this is the person who has the authority to release the aircraft in the event a missing tool or all the pieces of the broken tool is not found, which in our case is the quality assurance representative from him to the maintenance chief and finally the maintenance officer who has the final word.

The primary objective of the tool control program is to improve flight safety by eliminating aircraft accidents, incidents, and associated equipment damage caused by lost or misplaced tools. Secondary objectives include the reduction of expenditures for additional out fitting and replacement of missing, defective, or pilfered tools; the reduction of man hours for maintenance task completion; and a general improvement in the quality of aviation maintenance.

Every morning and every after maintenance action we ATAF which means all tools accounted for. During any job an ataf should be had at all times, but how many times are you supposed to ataf your tools?

An ataf is performed before the cdi checks your box to be checked out, it is then checked by the cdi so they can check the box out to you to use, before you go out and do your job on the flight line in the hangar etc. hen you get out to your job another ataf should be performed and you yet again make sure you have all of your tools, any work stoppage for example, if you need to get some rags, paint or go on a smoke break or use the head even when getting a cdi it is recommended to ataf so you don’t leave any tools lying about, right when your job is complete you ataf your area make sure you have all your tools and proceed inside, the last ataf is performed right before you turn it in in the shop where you make sure you have all your tools before you hand in your box and sign off your maf.