ABSTRACT
Webster’s dictionary defines the word tool as “any hand implement, instrument, etc., used for some work, or any similar instrument that is part of a machine.” You could ask a hundred people what they think of when they hear the word “tool,” and get answers anywhere from a screwdriver to a highly exotic instrument. The number and types of tools appear to be endless. The manufacturing engineering task in the tooling world of manufacturing is to understand all these tooling choices and select the right type of tool for each job. Think of the manufacturing engineer as the conductor of an orchestra, who must pick the correct instruments to produce the results that a critical audience is expecting
Planning and tooling are essential in bringing a product design into production. Tooling ensures proper fit and helps guarantee a repeatable process. Planning establishes the processes and establishes the timing at which the parts come together to make the finished product. Tooling and planning are two areas that can significantly affect the cost of a product.
