In this guide 6 sections
Set each tool’s reorder point from the jobs scheduled and the life of the tool, plus the days a supplier takes to deliver. Count inserts by edges, not boxes. Track regrind cycles for drills and end mills, and log holders issued to each machine, so shortages show before a job stops.
Group tools by how they run out
Not every tool behaves alike. Indexable inserts are consumed edge by edge. Solid carbide drills and end mills wear, get reground and return. Holders, collets and boring bars rarely wear out but go missing.
Split your crib list into these three groups before you set a single level. Each group needs its own rule, and a single minimum quantity for everything will either choke a job or bury cash in unused stock.
Give every item a code. It carries the grade, size and nose radius. A brand name alone will not do.
- Inserts counted by edges per box
- Solid tools with a regrind count
- Holders and collets issued to a machine
- Gauges and probes kept apart from cutting tools
Work out use from the jobs scheduled
Take the next four weeks of scheduled jobs. For each, the route card lists the tools and the cycle time. Divide the cutting minutes by the life of an edge to get the edges needed.
A CNMG insert on a steel shaft may give a few jobs of life, while the same grade on a stainless part may fail in one. Use the life your operators record for each material, not the catalogue claim.
Add up the need by tool code. This forward view beats an average of last year, because it follows the real order book.
Set the reorder point with delivery time in mind
The reorder point is the use during the supplier’s delivery time, plus a safety margin for breakage. A drill from a local distributor may arrive the next day. A special form tool from abroad may take weeks.
Slow items need higher cover. Fast local items can run lean. Mark the long lead items in a different colour on the crib list so the in-charge sees them first.
Review levels each month. A new customer with a titanium part can change the insert grade you burn through.
- Edges needed for scheduled jobs
- Supplier delivery days per item
- Breakage allowance from past issues
- Minimum order pack from the supplier
Track regrinds and holders as loops, not purchases
A drill sent for regrind is still an asset. Record the date out, the vendor, the date back and the number of regrinds so far. Retire the tool at the limit your supplier states for its length.
Holders and tool assemblies need an issue record. Note which machine holds which holder, with its length offset, so a missing item is found in a minute and not in the middle of a setup.
A returned tool should show who returned it and in what state. This habit catches chipped edges before they reach a job.
Make the crib list a living record
Count a few high-use items every week and a full count each quarter. Differences show leakage, such as inserts taken home or tools issued and never returned.
Let the system raise a shortlist when stock crosses the reorder point, and let the in-charge approve the purchase. A short list sent to the buyer on Monday morning keeps ordering calm.
Begin this week by writing the reorder point for your ten most used inserts and drills.
Tool crib reorder worksheet
A worksheet, a row for each tool code. Columns: type, grade and size, edges per box. More columns: edges needed for scheduled jobs, supplier delivery days, reorder point, regrind count and last machine issued to. Type is insert, solid tool or holder. A side block lists tools out for regrind with the vendor and return date.
Open a blank worksheet to printQuestions owners ask
How do we count inserts correctly?
Count edges, not boxes. A box of ten two-sided inserts holds twenty edges for a negative insert only when both sides are usable. Record the real figure per box once and reuse it.
How many regrinds can an end mill take?
It depends on the tool and its length after each grind. Ask the supplier for the usable limit and record the count on each tool so it can be retired in time.
Who should approve tool orders?
The tool crib in-charge raises the list and the production head approves it. This keeps costs visible without slowing urgent orders.
Do we need barcodes in the crib?
They help once you issue many items a day. Start with a clean item code list and a paper issue card, then add barcodes where scanning saves time.