• • Phase 2 foundation pour
• • Exterior and interior metal framing
• • Roof, staircase, and mezzanine installation
• • Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-in
• • A/C and fire sprinkler placement

Despite a slight delay in construction activities due to COVID-19, Phase 2 is in its final stages and we can see the substantial completion date in our sights.

Mid-March we saw the completion of the exterior metal framing, just in time for insulated metal panels that were lifted and placed into position. Each wall of Phase 2 had approximately 60 of these metal panels installed, which match the exterior paint of the Phase 1 tilt walls.

Just as we were making some major headway, the stay-at-home address came from Washington State Governor Inslee, temporarily shutting down both Tool Gauge and Washington Patriot Construction for two weeks.

Mid-April marked the first day of construction after the shutdown lifted and Washington Patriot immediately went to work with the help of Sound Glass installing windows, Alliance Steel installing our new metal canopy, and doors throughout the building.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on our time-lapse video from WorkZone Cam, you might have noticed the majority of exterior work has been completed. Construction activities for the remainder of April focused on the interior of the building, as Washington Patriot installed permanent power and drywall.

An infiltration trench to help collect rain water from adjacent surfaces was built in early May, where our new parking would soon be.

Throughout May, construction activities included installation of light fixtures, security cameras, and restroom tile. Long Painting came in and started giving the new walls a fresh coat of paint after all drywall was taped and textured. The last week in May, our second plastics parking lot was paved along with a smooth coat of asphalt on South Adams St.

We’re at the tail end of construction activities as we near the substantial completion date of June 26^th. Over the next couple of weeks, Washington Patriot will finalize interior paint, and restroom tiling, irrigation and new landscape, and floor installation. 

Tool Gauge employees will be able to move into Phase 2 beginning of July as we have new furniture delivered and the installation of Canteen Avenue C Micro Market. We’re also looking forward to our new paint equipment being delivered and installed in the upcoming months.

Once Phase 2 is complete, the new area with house an industry-leading paint line, new QA lab, training area/lunch room, employee lockers, offices and a customer lobby. All together, the Tool Gauge expansion project will include:

• • 80,000 sq ft in our plastics division
• • Expansion of our plastics press size range
• • Broadened secondary operations to improve flow and ergonomic assembly
• • Installation of industry-leading vertical paint system
• • New research and development center
• • Implementation of multiple collaborative robots (cobots)
• • 2,000 sq ft allocated for CNC machines and equipment within our metals division

Keep track of all the construction activities on our social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) and through our live Workzone Camera.

The post Facility Expansion Update – Summer 2020 appeared first on Tool Gauge.

Based on the stay-at-home order from Governor Inslee on March 23, 2020, and the temporary shutdown of Boeing Puget Sound, Tool Gauge temporarily shut down from March 26 through April 16^th.

As we plan to bring back partial crews to support non-Boeing Puget Sound shipments, Tool Gauge leadership and management teams have placed COVID-19 best practices to keep everyone safe and healthy while in the office and on factory floors. Best practices include prevention, protection and containment strategies:

Prevention

• • Informed employees of COVID-19 symptoms to watch for through CDC approved fliers, signage, and updates posted on internal applications.
• • Signage with enhanced PPE requirements has been posted throughout metals and plastics facilities near time clocks.
• • Nitrile gloves, safety glasses, face masks, and hearing protection have been provided to all employees working.
• • PPE are placed in optimal areas near doors and time clocks for distribution with clear explanations of proper usage.
• • Common areas such as lunchrooms, bathrooms, conference rooms, and all doors will be cleaned 4 times daily. Cleaning logs have been implemented and placed in each area, requiring a date, time and employee number of when it was cleaned.
• • All doors are to remain open to reduce exposure.
• • Signs are posted throughout both facilities to encourage people to wash their hands frequently, using soap, and washing for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Protection

• • Social distancing is in place, with a 6 ft separation policy in place. We’ve taped X’s and lines throughout both facilities indicating where people should stop when approaching work cells.
• • Break times have been staggered to allow a minimum of 6 ft separation at lunch tables.
• • Cleaning stations have been placed throughout offices and on the factory floors. Employees have quick access to cleaning equipment such as disinfectant wipes, paper towels, Lysol spray, etc.
• • Implementation of self-check screening tools.
• • Restricted all international business travel and any external meetings and personnel.
• • Staff who can work remotely have been encouraged to do so.
• • Communicate with all staff via email and internal applications on COVID-19 updates and temporary shutdown dates
• • Producing DtM Face Shields for Washington State, click here for DtM Face Shield assembly steps and instructions for use

Containment

• • Mandated quarantine for employees testing positive for COVID-19.
• • Identify and contact employees who may have been in contact with employee(s) displaying symptoms and mandate quarantine.
• • Close contaminated work area or facility.
• • Start disinfection procedures of contaminated areas.

Best practices have been distributed through multiple forms of communications via posted flyers in both metals and plastics divisions, internal applications and emails, and social media. We will continue to update our employees, customers, and suppliers of our best practices, temporary shutdown updates, and COVID-19 news in the Puget Sound region.

For more information on preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, visit the CDC or your state’s Department of Health website.

If you are interested in purchasing Face Shields from Tool Gauge, please click here for more information or contact us at sales@toolgauge.net.

Click here for DtM Face Shield assembly steps and instructions for use. 

The post Best Practices & Policies During COVID-19 appeared first on Tool Gauge.

Tool Gauge is pleased to announce our participation in the 2020 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany from March 31 – April 2, 2020. We will be exhibiting alongside 10 other aerospace companies under the Washington State Department of Commerce Choose Washington initiative inside the Hanse Pavilion, booth 6E80 / J.

AIX is an annual event that unites the world’s airlines with aviation interior suppliers over three days of B2Bs, buying, and panel discussions. It’s a unique opportunity for businesses, like Tool Gauge, to showcase products to over 16,000 industry attendees from 100+ countries, 1,000 airline buyers and over 500 exhibitors. The event provides additional opportunities for business networking and to listen and discuss newsworthy industry issues. Senior buyers, CEOs, fleet managers and other decision makers will be onsite to inform visitors and other exhibitors about the latest aerospace products and services, from cockpit doors, galleys and lavatories, overhead storage, seating, and inflight connectivity.

If you’re attending the expo, please stop by and visit the Tool Gauge booth to discuss your plastic and metal assembly needs – we’d love to meet with you. To schedule an appointment to meet with Tool Gauge representatives in advance, please email Jim Lee, General Manager, or call +1.253.473.2740.

We look forward to speaking with you!

The post AIX 2020 – See You Soon In Hamburg! appeared first on Tool Gauge.

In the continued pursuit of implementing new technology and increasing automation throughout our plastics and metals division, Tool Gauge management and engineering are in the first phase of evaluating new cobots from Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR).

Robotic specialists from Olympus Controls were onsite in late November to demonstrate the capabilities of their MiR500, one of four MiR autonomous mobile robot (AMR) models.

The MiR cobot fleet is a cost-effective way to quickly automate internal transportation and logistics of goods throughout various industry facilities. These robots optimize workflow, freeing employees for more valuable tasks, ultimately increasing productivity and reducing costs.

Over the next few months, Tool Gauge management and engineers will continue to research and evaluate smaller models of the MiR fleet to determine which departments would best utilize the robot. Material staging at presses, kitting operations, and our future paint department are areas considered to receive MiR robots. After proof of concept (POC) and ROI has been assessed, we will add 3-5 more MiR robots over the next few years.

Factors to be assessed before the first robot is purchased will be size, how to successfully (and safely) integrate the robot into daily operations, ROI, and proof of concept. If the robot is successfully integrated into facility operations, 3-5 more MiR robots will be purchased over the span of a few years.

For more information on MiR and their autonomous mobile robots, click here. Check page continously on our blog page for more information on our automation strategy!

The post Tool Gauge Evaluates MiR for New Plastics Facility appeared first on Tool Gauge.

• • Roof flashings and gutters
• • Injection molder rack rough-in
• • Exterior Paint
• • Dock leveler install
• • Storefront installation
• • Bridge crane installation
• • Equipment relocation and startup
• • Asphalt prep and pave for employee and customer parking
• • Irrigation installation systems
• • Site furnishings installation

 


Projected finish date of Phase 1 construction for early September with Phase 2 right around the corner. Phase 2 of the expansion project includes demolition of our current plastics facility to build out our paint room, QA lab, training and lunchroom, employee lockers and restrooms, offices and facility entrance/lobby.

Construction is estimated to be completed late 2019 and will feature a customer lobby with the history of Tool Gauge in a storyboard format, two conference rooms, six offices, 14 work spaces, employee locker area, lunchroom and training area. Other important expansion details include:
 

• • An additional 80,000 sq. ft. in our plastics division
• • Expansion of our plastics press size range
• • Broadening of our secondary operations to improve flow and ergonomic assembly
• • Installation of a new, state-of-the-art vertical paint system
• • An additional 2,000 sq. ft. for CNC equipment within our metals division
• • Implementation of multiple collaborative robots (cobots)

Once the expansion project is completed, we expect to create over 100 new jobs spanning over the next five years within the Tacoma-Pierce County region. The grant from Governor Inslee’s Strategic Reserve Fund will assist in the training of new employees and advance the skills of 50 incumbent employees. Employee opportunities are on our career page and will include full-time, apprenticeship and internship positions in machining, molding, assembly and engineering areas.

To follow the Tool Gauge expansion project progress, visit out live WorkZone Cam or on our social media channels.

The post Facility Expansion Update – Summer 2019 appeared first on Tool Gauge.

Dickson Company broke ground with demolition in September 2018, demolishing 8 buildings including the original Tool Gauge PMP facility. After clean up was completed, Washington Patriot Construction came in and began installing underground utilities in preparation for approximately 1,000 – 1,050 cubic yards of concrete to be poured for the foundation. Another 906 cubic yards of concrete would be poured for the tilt walls.

With the help of a 550 ton crane, Washington Patriot lifted and installed the 55 walls in three days, taking the crew roughly 1,500 man hours to fabricate and lift the walls, some weighing up to 80,000 pounds.

Structural steel including steel columns, I beams, girders and joists have been delivered and are being erected through the end of March 2019. The beginning of April will mark the beginning of the roof installation (rood edge blocking, installing the roofing system and setting mechanical units) and vertical enclosures (installing windows, exterior door frames and doors, exterior painting and finishes).

Construction is estimated to be completed in late 2019 and will feature a customer lobby with the history of Tool Gauge in a storyboard format, two conference rooms, six offices, and 14 work spaces. Other important expansion details include:

• • Expansion of the plastics division press size range with implementation of multiple collaborative robots
• • Broadening of our secondary operations
• • Installation of a state-of-the-art vertical paint system
• • 2,000 sq. ft. for CNC equipment within our metals division

Once the facility is complete, we expect to create over 100 new jobs spanning over 5 years for the  Tacoma-Pierce County region. The grant from Governor Inslee’s Strategic Reserve Fund will assist in training new employees and advance the skills of 50 incumbent employees. Employee opportunities will include full-time, apprenticeship, and internship positions in machining, molding, assembly and engineering areas.

Follow the live expansion updates

To keep up with the Tool Gauge construction progress, visit our live workzone cam or our social media channels.

Contact Us

To discuss your plastic and metal assembly manufacturing needs, please email our General Manager, Jim Lee. If you are attending AIX 2019, from April 2-4 in Hamburg, Germany, please visit our booth under the Washington State umbrella at booth 6E80 / J.

The post Facility Expansion Update – Spring 2019 appeared first on Tool Gauge.

AIX is an annual event showcasing cabin interiors, in-flight entertainment, connectivity, passenger experience, and passenger services and will draw more than 16,000 industry attendees from 103 countries, 1,000 airline buyers representing 268 carriers, and featuring more than 550 exhibitors. Senior buyers, CEOs, fleet managers and other decision makers will be onsite to inform attendees about the latest aerospace products and services, from cockpit doors, galleys and lighting to fasteners, overhead storage, and seating.

If you’re attending the expo, please stop by and visit the Tool Gauge booth to discuss your plastic and metal assembly needs. To schedule an appointment in advance, please email Jim Lee, General Manager, or call +1.253.473.2740.

We look forward to speaking with you!

The post See You Soon at AIX 2019 in Hamburg, Germany! appeared first on Tool Gauge.

Originally from Utah, Steven and his family moved to Sammamish, Wash., at a very young age. He attended Western Washington University, majoring in Manufacturing Engineering.

“I pretty much got hired as soon as I graduated at Tool Gauge,” said Steven. “This is my first career job. I’ve done internships at other plastics companies through summers in college, but this is my first real job.”

Starting his career in June of 2018, some of Steven’s daily tasks and projects as an ME includes supporting production and making sure it all runs smoothly.

“If there is a problem that arises that inhibits assembly or manufacturing of some item, we tackle that problem and see how to fix it,” says Steven. “Usually, it’s about designing fixtures. If we need to drill holes in something, we’ll have to design a fixture that goes into a drill press to get accurate hole placement every time.”

Some of Steven’s projects include decorative ceiling panels for the new Boeing 777x and decorative plastic pieces that are placed around the storage bins of airplanes. But his favorite project to date that he’s worked on are edge supports manufactured for Zodiac Aerospace.

“There is one long edge support part that can be cut down in to four other part numbers,” stated Steven. “That was fun for me because it was the first project that I tackled from start to finish, where I felt confident in how to approach the situation and was able to build my own fixture for production use that can accurately cut down those parts to length. We still use it and it was a really cool experience.”

Tool Gauge is in the midst of expanding their plastics division to an 80,000 sq. ft. facility. When asked about the expansion and what he hopes to work on in the new facility, he answered pretty quickly with robotics.

“We’re expected to get some assembly robots in,” says Steven. “I haven’t got to touch that [sprue pickers] yet but I’d really like to be involved with the new robots.”

As a new engineer himself, his main goals are keep improving and learning every day. For aspiring engineers, his main advice is to do things the correct way.

“Always do things the correct way, don’t take short cuts. You could risk creating bigger problems for yourself.”

The post Interview with Steven Ouzts, Manufacturing Engineer appeared first on Tool Gauge.

• • An additional 80,000 sq. ft. in our plastics division
• • Expansion of our plastics press size range
• • Broadening of our secondary operations to improve flow and ergonomic assembly
• • Installation of a new, state-of-the-art vertical paint system
• • An additional 2,000 sq. ft. for CNC equipment within our metals division
• • Implementation of multiple collaborative robots (cobots)

Once our new facility is complete, we expect to create between 100 and 150 new jobs over the next five years for the Tacoma-Pierce County region. We will grow from 135 employees currently to approximately 235 by 2024, adding full-time, apprenticeship, and internship positions in machining, molding, assembly, and engineering.

Just like many businesses going through such an extensive company expansion, we have learned a few lessons along the way, including:

• • We visited other local peer aerospace companies to verify best practices.
• • We found out that plans take longer than projected.
• • We learned to not delay – we need to hire now for the future.
• • We need to continuously think automation and LEAN practices.
• • We created new benefits package to attract new talent.
• • We implemented key performance indicators (KPIs) measuring safety, quality, delivery, cost, and training – measure, report, share in Plastics and Metals Operations, Tool Maintenance, and Secondary Operations.
• • We immediately integrated change into our evolving culture.

Estimated expansion timeline

• • June 2019: Phase 1 of construction complete
• • Late 2019: Phase 2 of construction complete
• • Fall 2019: Inauguration of new manufacturing facility

Follow live expansion updates

We invite you to follow our construction progress on our live workzone cam at https://bit.ly/2NpvscM.

To discuss your plastic and metal assembly manufacturing needs, please email our General Manager Jim Lee.

The post Facility expansion update – Fall 2018 appeared first on Tool Gauge.

I am originally from Gig Harbor, Wash. I am in my third year at Pacific Lutheran University in Seattle in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in business. I will graduate in June 2020.

What attracted you about interning at Tool Gauge this summer?

I have always been interested in the aerospace industry, especially the defense sector. I believe Tool Gauge will provide me with the working experience that I need to help shape a career path in this field. The fact that the company is also working on a major expansion of its Tacoma manufacturing facility is also an exciting event to witness first-hand. After being employed full-time for three months this summer, I will work part-time starting in September after school starts which I know is going to be a challenge from a time management standpoint, but this is an amazing opportunity!

Which Tool Gauge department are you assigned to and what kind of projects do you typically work on?

I am currently working in the company’s Estimating Department. I am involved in the quoting process for customers such as Boeing. This area is interesting to me because I get to see the kind of capabilities Tool Gauge has. I will later be introduced into marketing which is another area I am interested in.

What kind of job will you be seeking after you graduate from university?

I really enjoy crunching numbers and hope to land a budget analysis job in the Department of Defense. I’d love to do this as a career and I think that my current internship at Tool Gauge will prepare me well for this type of position.

Would you recommend an internship at Tool Gauge to others and why?

Absolutely! The working environment here at the manufacturing facility is very friendly, yet very professional. This internship is also a great way for me to gain insight into how an office is run as well as receive hands-on experience in a very exciting, innovative field. I know these skills will serve me well in the future.

The post Interview with Korey Wasser, Intern at Tool Gauge appeared first on Tool Gauge.