Tool Control for Manufacturing
Over the years, Coplan has worked with some of the largest manufacturers within the food, pharmaceutical, medical and electronics industries.
Our Tool Control solutions ensure that tools are not ‘left behind’ when used within these environments, protecting our customers from the serious implications of damage caused by processing ‘foreign objects’.
We love working with clients to enhance Tool Control processes, and have successfully helped to deliver a range of highly valuable specialist services – including:
- Visual Tool Control (VTC) solutions that easily identify tools not returned
- Mobile FOD tool control bags housing all required tools for off-site maintenance
- Electronic solutions that restrict access of tools to authorised, trained users only
- Electronic audits demonstrating controlled access and FOD reports
- Automated tool calibration control

Electronic Tool Access Control
Controlling and auditing access to tools is an important process that all organisations should follow during the build and manufacturing process. The implications of missing or lost tools can be severe, and traditional methods such as manual sign-out sheets can be flawed and difficult to manage.
Coplan provides effective solutions for clients that need to automate access to tools, whilst also recording the issue and receipt of each one. Not only does this help with compliance around recording access, but it also provides a number of efficiencies - removing the requirement for paper-based reports, reducing downtime and freeing up time for personnel who previously had to manage the process.
The electronic Tool Access Control solutions which we offer can:
• Restrict access to certain tool kits or boxes to only authorised personnel, on a kit by kit basis
• Provide instant audits, to log who has accessed which tool kit and when
• Restrict further access to tool kits in instances where all tools are not confirmed as replaced
• Restrict access to tools that are not within their calibration allowance
• Provide custom reporting reports and alerts for senior staff