There is a difference

Industrial-grade hand tools are made specifically for professional end-users.

by Jay Young

Proper hand tool selection for MRO applications can make a big difference in job performance.  Because maintenance and repair technicians and other professional end-users depend on tools to do their jobs, it’s important to select tools designed and manufactured to meet the unique requirements of use in industrial occupations.

Advanced hand tools available today enable professional end-users to work more efficiently, with greater comfort.  These tools also last longer, ensuring efficient performance over time, saving companies money in the long term.

Making the grade
Selecting tools for industrial applications should begin with understanding some general differences between industrial-grade and consumer-grade tools.

Tool companies manufacture industrial-grade hand tools with advanced materials and innovative designs, often after gathering direct input from experienced maintenance and repair professionals.  The products’ superior durability and performance characteristics result from the intense research and development required to bring these tools to market.

Professionals time and again mention hand tool durability as a key factor that drives satisfaction.  In industrial maintenance operations, hand tools must be manufactured to withstand the rigors of daily use on the job, helping professionals avoid the inconvenience of constantly changing or repairing tools. 

Hand tools also must be versatile enough to handle a variety of tasks, but specialized enough to meet the unique requirements of specific end uses.  For example, machine repair often requires tools that enable efficient work in tight spaces.  Other desirable innovations include ergonomic features such as soft-grip coverings and lightweight materials such as cast aluminum that enhance user comfort without sacrificing strength and durability.

End-users drive innovation
Tool manufacturers realize that professional end-users are the best source of information about product innovations that will improve their on-the-job performance, and that’s why the last decade has seen tool companies focus more attention on involving professional tradespeople in research and development efforts.

Tool companies use a variety of methods to gather information from professional end-users.  Companies often begin the R&D process by bringing together small groups of trade professionals with various experience levels to see how they react to hand tools with different features.  These focus groups help tool manufacturers learn end-users’ preferences and identify the key performance factors that drive their decision-making when choosing one hand tool over another.

Experience as learning tool
Providing hands-on experience with tools and next-generation prototypes is the best way to find out exactly what professional end-users think of tools and what modifications they think could help them improve performance.  That’s why leading tool companies have teams of individuals visit industrial facilities to interact with the people that use tools every day.

A particular tool manufacturer may send an end-user specialist team to a plant in order to demonstrate new products, provide product samples and discuss improvements professionals would like to see in its tools.  Such a team receives intensive hands-on training, using tools in the same tasks maintenance technicians perform regularly, so that they are familiar with the challenges of using tools on the job.

Visiting trade professionals and listening to their needs provide the backbone of new product development.

End-user research teams form the link between professionals in the field and tool companies’ product development teams.  The end-user teams report information gathered from professionals on the job to product managers who are in charge of continually improving products. 

When product managers receive similar feedback from many end-users over time — such as the need for locking pliers with larger jaw capacity or stronger, longer-lasting teeth — they relay this information to the engineers responsible for making innovations happen.  The engineers use their knowledge of scientific disciplines such as kinematics (the study of motion) and metallurgy (understanding the properties of metals) to quantify the mechanical and physical properties responsible for delivering the product characteristics end-users demand.  Upon developing a prototype new product or updating an existing tool, companies sometimes revisit end-users to get one more round of feedback before proceeding with full-scale production.

Testing ensures consistency
Adding end-user-driven innovations to hand tools is just one piece of the puzzle.  In today’s competitive environment, tool companies must deliver products that perform consistently during day-in/day-out use under industrial job conditions. 

A common complaint among maintenance and repair pros is the inability to depend on a particular hand tool to perform at the same level as an identical tool manufactured by the same company.  In the past, tool performance could vary greatly even between several identical tools purchased through the same channel on the same day.  Today, however, the product development process relies more heavily on science and repetitive testing to avoid such variance in product performance.

Leading industrial tool companies employ highly trained scientists with expertise in fields like physics or mechanical science to test products thoroughly.  These individuals work in facilities with advanced equipment designed to simulate industrial tool usage under controlled conditions, allowing isolation of individual product performance factors.  The testing facilities enable the engineering staff to establish benchmarks and measure hand tools against the benchmarks over and over again, leading to precise, accurate information about how products will perform in the field.

Armed with information
Tool purchasing decisions critically influence the bottom line in the maintenance and repair business because the right tools can have a significant impact on efficiency and quality of work in such operations.

Those responsible for buying tools should prepare themselves with all available information and become familiar with industrial tool companies’ R&D and manufacturing processes to ensure that they select tools made to meet the needs of professional end-users.

Choosing industrial-grade hand tools manufactured by companies that focus on end-user-based product innovation and thoroughly test their products for consistency will help ensure improved performance and efficiency on the job.

Jay Young is a marketing director for Irwin Industrial Tools, a maker of professional-grade hand tools and power tool accessories. To learn more, call or visit www.irwin.com.

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