LEARN / GLOSSARY
Tooling
The dies, fixtures, moulds and jigs specific to a particular part. Tooling is designed after the part, built by specialists, and frequently sits on the critical path without appearing in the project schedule.
Definition
Tooling is the set of part-specific implements a process requires: dies for stamping and forging, moulds for casting and injection, fixtures that hold work in position, and gauges that verify it. Unlike machines, tooling is not general purpose. It exists for one part and is useless for any other.
Why the dictionary version is insufficient
Describing tooling as equipment obscures the sequence that makes it a scheduling problem. Tooling cannot be designed until the part is designed, cannot be built until it is designed, and cannot be relied upon until trial runs have proven it, a step that commonly reveals problems requiring rework. Each stage depends on the one before, so the total interval cannot be compressed by parallel effort.
Why it matters for capacity
For stamped, forged and moulded components the tooling lead time frequently exceeds equipment lead time and occasionally exceeds construction. When tooling is late the plant stands complete, powered and staffed while producing nothing, which is the most expensive form of delay because every other cost has already been incurred.
Institute analysisProject schedules that track buildings treat tooling as a production detail rather than a critical path item. It belongs on the same schedule as the transformer and the interconnection agreement, because it can determine the operating date as decisively as either.
Related terms
Qualification · Yield · Sub-tier supplier
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Read next
Sources
- Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 46, Quality Assurance. acquisition.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau, Construction Spending. census.gov