Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for gear manufacturers.
A checklist built from how gear manufacturers work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Drawing, module and grade register
- Blank lots and heat numbers
- Hobbing and shaping routes
- Heat treatment load tracking
- Tooth inspection charts
- Cutter and hob life
- Quotations and despatch
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For the owner
- For production planners
- For machine operators
- For the tool room
- For inspectors
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Batches by operation, machine and due date
- Gears cut per hob and shaving cutter
- Outside heat treatment loads open and returned
- Tooth inspection results by part and batch
- Rework and scrap hours against quoted cost
- Blank lots with remaining stock
- Orders delivered against promised date
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- Gear tester data import
- Accounting export
- Barcode labels
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Can we keep the drawing revision with each order?
- How is hob life tracked?
- Can a returned heat treatment load be matched to gears?
- Does it work for helical and bevel gears too?
- Can the inspection chart go to the customer?
- What happens to scrap and rework?
- Can our outside heat treater see the system?
- How much does it cost?
- Can we move our spreadsheets in?
- Who helps when a route needs a change?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- A tooth error is found three operations late
- Outside heat treatment loses its trail
- Hob and cutter life is guessed
- Grade and drawing revision slip through
- Rework is not costed
Prefer to talk it through? See the gear manufacturers page.