Senator Cantwell met with several Tool Gauge employees including General Manager, Jim Lee; Molding Manager, Aaron Davis; Master Scheduler, Teresita Quiroz; and CEO, Debbie Lee during the press conference to discuss how the AMJP has impacted Tool Gauge. Tool Gauge received close to $620,000 in grant funding from AMJP which saved 38 jobs during the pandemic.

“Because we had the grant, we had the workforce, and we were able to save our key-skilled positions. We were in a great position to take on that transfer work. And the thing about aerospace work is, once it goes away, it never comes back…So it was critical for us, and it’s going to help us grow back out,” said Jim Lee.

The AMJP focuses on supporting the aviation supply chain and helping aviation companies rebound from the effects of the pandemic, supporting 50% of employee total compensation costs (including health care benefits) and up to 25% of their employees. Overall, the program provided over $57 million in funds to over 68 different companies throughout Pierce, Snohomish, and King counties.

Not only did the grant help Tool Gauge to retain key skilled employees, but it’s also helping to support ongoing investments in educational opportunities for all skill level employees.

“In retaining the staff we have, we’ve gone further to invest in education opportunities for entry-level employees such as the AJAC program and RJG’s Master Molder program,” said Aaron Davis. “I started off as a machine operator just after the recession in 2008 and worked my way up in my career. It’s really important to me to be able to bring more staff on board at the same position I was in back in 2009 and be able to get them to a level where you can have a livable wage here in the Tacoma area.”

The ongoing pandemic has severely impacted the aerospace sector from manufacturing, supply chain, maintenance, and more. Tool Gauge felt the effects, going from a headcount of 190 employees pre-pandemic to as low as 68.

“I think that what we do here is really important and it impacts every single person that is part of this team,” said Teresita Quiroz. “Thanks to programs like the one the senator helped us with, we’ve kept people here and I think it’s just so gratifying to see that we have built a great company to be working in. I’ve benefited from this program, me and a couple of my family members work here. It’s been just a blessing to know that during these difficult times, I and my family have been able to keep our jobs to provide for our families.”

Currently at 95 employees, Tool Gauge is in immediate need of 20 additional employees in assembly and operation positions. Once the aerospace industry recovers and production is back at full scale, an additional 20-30 positions will be added.

For more information on the AMJP and Tool Gauge grant, click here.

Interested in working for Tool Gauge? Head to our Career Page under the About Us section, or click here.

The post Senator Maria Cantwell Visits Tool Gauge to Discuss the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program (AMJP) appeared first on Tool Gauge.

• • 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.

As the pandemic continued, individuals and businesses throughout the state (and around the world) lent a helping hand to help fight against COVID-19 and provide PPE for healthcare personnel, first responders, and more. Tool Gauge wanted to do our part as well.

Being a build-to-print manufacturer of complex metal parts and assemblies, Tool Gauge used our existing expertise and capabilities to manufacture a National Institutes of Health (NIH) DtM Face Shield.

The DtM Face Shield is comprised of an injection molded polypropylene headband, polycarbonate shield, and an elastic headband.

Our first shipment of DtM Face Shields is set to be sent out this month to Washington State, to aid in the domestic supply chain of PPE. We will be sending out a total order quantity of 100,000 face shields but have the capacity to produce more.

We are offering the DtM Face Shield at our cost, using materials on hand or in our supply chain in order to move as rapidly as possible in scaling up production.

If you are interested in learning more about these DtM Face Shields or would like to place an order, follow this link to view the PDF.

We look forward to working with you on your PPE needs.

The post TOOL GAUGE TO PRODUCE FACE SHIELDS 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.

When did you decide to become an apprentice and what sparked the idea that led you to join the AJAC apprenticeship program?

I decided to become an apprentice during my junior year of high school after my engineering design teacher, Mr. Reher, informed me about the program. After weighing out the pros and cons, I decided it would be a great opportunity for me.

What are your courses like at AJAC and are you able to apply what you’ve learned through their courses to school work?

My courses at AJAC are very hands-on and put my brain to work. I’m able to apply the math used at my AJAC class to my real high school math class.

Describe a typical day in the life of a production technician apprentice?

A typical day in the life for me a production technician involves waking up early for school. After school, I go home and get ready for my work shift at 3 pm. After work, I go home and get my homework done for school and my AJAC class. On Tuesdays my schedule changes instead of work, after school I attend my AJAC class from 3:30 – 7 pm where I practice and learn skills to be more successful in my apprenticeship.

What has been your favorite part about your apprenticeship and being part of the AJAC program?

My favorite part about my apprenticeship and being part of the AJAC program is knowing that I’m working in an industry I love and learning new things every day while being surrounded by people who support me.

What are you currently working on at Tool Gauge and are you able to apply what you’ve learned at AJAC or school to your TG work?

I am currently working on learning how to set up CNC machines for jobs on my own. I’m able to apply what I learn at my AJAC class to Tool Gauge work, for example, having learned how to read and use measuring tools correctly helps me measure parts precisely to ensure a quality part has been produced. One day, I hope to work with the biggest machine in the Tool Gauge shop.

How have your AJAC teachers and Tool Gauge supervisors helped you throughout your apprenticeship so far?

My AJAC teacher and Tool Gauge supervisors have helped me tremendously throughout my apprenticeship. My teacher teaches me to understand the machining basic skills needed while my supervisors help me put into action those skills I’ve learned through hands-on machining. My supervisors also have supported me with being flexible with school and family.

What are some of your plans for after completing your apprenticeship and/or high school?

My plan after completing high school and apprenticeship is to go to Washington State University to get my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The post MEET TOOL GAUGE APPRENTICE, JACQUELINE ESPINOZA appeared first on Tool Gauge.

Tool Gauge is actively monitoring the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its impact on our end-to-end supply chain. We are following local, state, and federal guidelines, and enforcing best-practices as outlined by the United States Centers for Disease Control as well as the World Health Organization.

Governor Jay Inslee announced a statewide stay-at-home order effective Wednesday, March 25th. Acting in the best interest of our employees, their families, and our community, Tool Gauge will be extending our temporary suspension from April 9th to April 16th.

To support our customers who are currently operating, Tool Gauge will have limited employees returning to work effective Monday, April 13th. All employees will be provided with enhanced PPE to ensure their safety and well-being while working.

We’re continually monitoring news and data on COVID-19 and will continue to have staff working remotely to maintain essential functions and to continue communications with our customers and suppliers in an effort to preserve and protect their operations.

Please continue to check our blog page and social media channels for up-to-date information on COVID-19 and our temporary shut down.

The post Tool Gauge Suspends Operations Amid Coronavirus Outbreak appeared first on Tool Gauge.

September proved to be one of the busier months with the remaining plastics departments moving from the old PMP building to the facility. Mold maintenance, CNC, and quality moved in the middle of the month, followed by the tool room and plastic injection molders.

With the help of Checkmate Industries, the plastic injection molders were moved swiftly to the new facility in just three days. Molders were then reconnected and calibrated to keep up with production schedules and to prepare for Boeing’s BAC5231 recertification.

Due to delays with a demolition permit, demo day was pushed back from early to mid-November but that didn’t slow Dickson Company from tearing down our old plastics building in less than a week. The final wall came down, marking the end of an era and the start of phase 2 construction with Washington Patriot Construction.

Construction began early December with site grading in preparation for footing and stem wall excavation, and footing forms installation.

Upcoming construction activities include concrete footing placement with 100+ yards of concrete being poured starting Dec. 13^th, stem wall form and rebar installation, underground plumbing and electrical installation, and slab on grade in early January.

Substantial completion of the Tool Gauge expansion project is scheduled for May 11, 2020 with an open house scheduled in June.

When completed, Phase 2 of the expansion project will include an industry leading paint line, QA lab, training and lunchroom area, employee lockers and restrooms, offices and facility lobby. Other important expansion details include:

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

If you’ve been keeping up with our social media outlets and blog posts, you may have noticed we’ve already started taking action on expanding our plastic presses and evaluating new technology for the factory floor.

We’ve received one of our five new plastic injection molders, a bright green Engel 1250 equipped with a Viper 50 robot. Once up and running, this machine will be molding interior parts for Boeing’s 777x and 737 aircrafts. In the next coming week, we will be receiving four additional Engel 85-340 ton molders for the plastics factory floor.

Management and engineering teams have also evaluated new types cobots for the plastics division, including an autonomous mobile robot (amr) from Mobile Industrial Robots (Mir). Olympus Controls visited Tool Gauge in late November to demonstrate their MiR500, which is a prime candidate to autonomously transport material and finished goods from various departments in the new facility. Both teams will continue to evaluate MiR as they review proof of concepts and ROI before purchasing a model. Click here for more information on our automation strategy with MiR robots.

We invite you to follow along with the last leg of our expansion journey by watching our 24 hour Workzone Cam and on our social media handles.

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

What has been your favorite course so far with AJAC?
We don’t really have courses other than stem 3, but my favorite part about that class is working on the lathe. I have a lathe at home and having that knowledge of knowing the basics really comes in handy in class. It makes me feel good knowing that I have knowledge on a machine that helps me be more efficient.

Have you been applying what you’ve learned in AJAC classes to work at Tool Gauge?
I apply a lot of the basics that I’ve learned in class at work, such as measuring with precision tools and deciphering of drawings. What I haven’t applied at work is using manual machines. I’ve used manual machines a few times but I’d rather learn on CNC machines at school.

You’re the first automation apprentice at Tool Gauge, what are you most looking forward to learning and working with?
I would like to learn how to setup and program the robotic arm on the lathes. Its complexity and usefulness are something that will ecentually be used more in the future. I’d like to get a head start and know how to use and monitor one.

How has your apprenticeship been so far through AJAC and at Tool Gauge?
My time in the AJAC program has been great. Fortunately, I like a physical job versus being on a computer all day. I’d recommend the program to other if they’re willing to work hard and be consistent.

Tool Gauge has been good so far. It’s a physical job which I like, but in a relaxed environment. I’ve learned a lot so far: the importance of being on time, every person in this organization is a vital part in the grand scheme of things, and vital machine information both in running and maintaining.

What are some of your goals/plans after your complete this apprenticeship?
My goals after completing the apprenticeship now are open ended, I don’t really have a concrete goal or idea of what I want to do. But working in cnc has expanded my knowledge of what I like in the job and what I don’t.

The post Meet Tool Gauge Apprentice, Gavin Robinson appeared first on Tool Gauge.

This is the second year for the Chinese government to hold CIIE, giving firm support to trade liberalization and economic globalization, and opening the Chinese market to the world. Over 100 countries and regions are expected to participate in CIIE 2019, drawing about 150,00 domestic and foreign professionals to participate in the exhibition. There are several industries participating in this year’s event including High-End Equipment, Trade in Services, Automobile, Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products, Food and Agricultural Products, and more. Tool Gauge will be located in the High-End Equipment hall which showcases companies in aerospace, materials processing and molding, energy technology, transportation equipment.

If you are attending CIIE, please stop by the Tool Gauge booth for a visit and to discuss your plastic and metal assembly needs. Schedule an appointment in advance or connect with us during B2B sessions, by contacting Jim Lee, General Manager, or call +1.253.473.2740.

We look forward to speaking with you during CIIE and aerospace related events!

The post See You at CIIE 2019 in Shanghai, China! appeared first on Tool Gauge.