Foreign Object Damage prevention & tool control.
Foreign Object Damage (FOD) has long been a problem in the aircraft industry as a loose object such as a technician’s tool left in a critical area of an aircraft can have fatal consequences should it jam a control. At Big Red Kite we have always been very careful to make sure that we do not leave any foreign objects in aircraft, however, as our associated engineering company now has EASA 145 approval and so is subject to the same scrutiny from the authorities as the airlines, it became clear that we needed to improve tool control within the company.
It was decided that foam inserts in the tool kits would highlight when a tool was missing from the kit, unfortunately there is no ‘off the shelf option for the equipment that we use so after much internet searching we found Oakleigh Cases who said they could provide bespoke foam inserts for the tool kits.
It was decided that foam inserts in the tool kits would highlight when a tool was missing from the kit, unfortunately there is no ‘off the shelf option for the equipment that we use so after much internet searching we found Oakleigh Cases who said they could provide bespoke foam inserts for the tool kits.
I was very impressed with the enthusiasm that Joe Holewski at Oakleigh Cases set about the task, he simply would not settle for a second class job as you can see from the pictures. All the tools were grouped in a logical way and are securely held in place.
The results have exceeded what we set out to achieve, what was intended was to be able to check the tool kit at the end of a task but as a tool out of place is so visually obvious it just screams at you to replace the tool in its place in the kit immediately after use, the result is a much more ordered way of working that increases productivity.
The foam inserts were not cheap but a quality product rarely is, however, I think that over the next few months the foam inserts will pay for themselves with the increase in productivity. The original aim of the project was to increase flight safety this has been achieved, clearly this benefit is beyond price.
As you have probably guessed by now I highly recommend Oakleigh Cases and should you require any foam inserts you can contact them on the links below.
The foam inserts were not cheap but a quality product rarely is, however, I think that over the next few months the foam inserts will pay for themselves with the increase in productivity. The original aim of the project was to increase flight safety this has been achieved, clearly this benefit is beyond price.
As you have probably guessed by now I highly recommend Oakleigh Cases and should you require any foam inserts you can contact them on the links below.