# CNC Shop Programming and Tooling Data Maturity Assessment > Source: https://netray.co/tools/cnc-shop-programming-and-tooling-data-maturity-assessment > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Score how well your shop manages NC program revisions, tool data, offsets and setup documentation, and see where to start. ## Category mes-shop-floor ## Industry Machining ## Audience - Production manager - Manufacturing engineer - CNC programmer ## Tool **Kind:** assessment **Questions:** #### How are NC programs stored and released to machines? **Options:** ##### USB sticks and personal folders **Score:** 0 ##### A shared folder, mostly organized by part number **Score:** 1 ##### A controlled server or DNC system, but access is wide open **Score:** 2 ##### A controlled system with revision, approval and release by job **Score:** 3 #### How do you ensure the program matches the drawing revision? **Options:** ##### We rely on the operator to know **Score:** 0 ##### The revision is in the file name but not always updated **Score:** 1 ##### Revision is in the header and the setup sheet **Score:** 2 ##### Revision is linked to the ERP part revision and checked at release **Score:** 3 #### How are program edits made at the machine handled? **Options:** ##### They stay on the machine and are lost **Score:** 0 ##### Operators tell the programmer, sometimes **Score:** 1 ##### Edits are written on the setup sheet and the programmer updates later **Score:** 2 ##### Edits are uploaded back, diffed and approved as a new revision **Score:** 3 #### Where is the tool list for each job kept? **Options:** ##### In the programmer's head or in comments only **Score:** 0 ##### On a printed or spreadsheet setup sheet **Score:** 1 ##### In the CAM system and a shared tool library **Score:** 2 ##### In a tool management database connected to the work order **Score:** 3 #### How do you track tool life and replacement? **Options:** ##### When it breaks or the part looks wrong **Score:** 0 ##### Operators judge by sound and appearance **Score:** 1 ##### Part count or run time limits on the control for key tools **Score:** 2 ##### Logged tool life data used to set limits and reorder points **Score:** 3 #### How are work and tool offsets handled between jobs? **Options:** ##### Operators re-enter them every time **Score:** 0 ##### Offsets are noted on paper for repeat jobs **Score:** 1 ##### Offsets are saved from the control per job **Score:** 2 ##### Offsets are stored with the job, probed and logged automatically **Score:** 3 #### How current are setup sheets? **Options:** ##### We do not use setup sheets **Score:** 0 ##### They exist for some jobs but are often out of date **Score:** 1 ##### They exist for most jobs and are updated when someone remembers **Score:** 2 ##### They are generated from released data for every job **Score:** 3 #### How is first piece inspection data recorded? **Options:** ##### Not recorded **Score:** 0 ##### Paper notes kept for a while **Score:** 1 ##### Spreadsheet or form per job **Score:** 2 ##### Recorded against the job, searchable by part and revision **Score:** 3 #### How do actual cycle times get back to the routing? **Options:** ##### They do not **Score:** 0 ##### Estimators ask the shop floor occasionally **Score:** 1 ##### Operators log run time per job in the ERP **Score:** 2 ##### Machine data feeds actual versus standard times for quoting **Score:** 3 #### If a customer changes a drawing, how quickly can you find every affected program and fixture? **Options:** ##### We would need to ask around **Score:** 0 ##### Within a day by searching files **Score:** 1 ##### Within an hour using folders and the ERP **Score:** 2 ##### In minutes from a linked part, program and fixture record **Score:** 3 **Bands:** #### Ad hoc **Min:** 0 **Max:** 39.99 **Verdict:** Programs, tools and setup knowledge depend mostly on individuals, which creates scrap, crash and lost-knowledge risk. **Recommendations:** - Put all programs on one controlled server and stop using personal USB sticks - Put the drawing revision in the program header and setup sheet - Start a simple setup sheet for your top 10 repeat jobs - Record tool life and offsets for the parts you run most #### Partly controlled **Min:** 40 **Max:** 69.99 **Verdict:** You have good habits in places, but revision control, edit feedback and tool data have gaps. **Recommendations:** - Define a release step so only approved revisions reach machines - Upload machine edits back and approve them as a new revision - Move tool lists from spreadsheets into one tool database - Log actual cycle times to improve quotes and routings #### Controlled **Min:** 70 **Max:** 100 **Verdict:** Your shop has strong control of programs and tooling. The next gains come from connecting that data to the ERP and analytics. **Recommendations:** - Link programs, fixtures and tools to ERP part and routing records - Use actual versus standard time to refine quotes - Automate setup sheet creation from released data - Review whether an ERP assistant could answer program and tool questions for planners ## Content **Intro:** In a CNC shop, the programs, tool lists, offsets and setup notes are the real process knowledge. When they are scattered, parts get scrapped, setups take longer and a departing programmer takes years of knowledge with them. This short assessment scores how well that data is controlled. **Sections:** #### How to use the assessment **Body:** Answer each of the ten questions for how things really work today, not how they should work. Your total is converted into a percentage and mapped to a band. Run it with a programmer, a setup person and a planner, because each of them will see different gaps. #### What the questions measure **Body:** The ten questions cover five areas: program storage and release, revision control, tool data and tool life, setup and offset documentation, and feedback from the floor such as edits, first piece results and cycle times. A low score in one area often pulls down the others because they depend on shared data. **Bullets:** - Program storage and release - Revision linkage to drawings - Tool lists and tool life - Offsets, setup sheets and first piece - Cycle time feedback to routings #### Reading your band **Body:** Ad hoc shops benefit most from simple steps such as a single controlled server and consistent headers. Partly controlled shops should close the loop on edits and tool data. Controlled shops get value from connecting data to the ERP so a planner, estimator or buyer can find answers without asking the programmer. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Buying software before agreeing the process, rating yourself on policy instead of practice, and fixing the most visible problem while ignoring edit feedback from the floor. Start with revision control and a single source for programs, because other improvements build on that. **Cta:** If your result points to connecting NC and tooling data to your ERP, we can talk through what is realistic to automate and what should stay manual. **Faq:** #### Is this assessment only for large shops? **Answer:** No. Small shops often gain the most from simple steps such as a controlled program folder, revision comments and a standard setup sheet. The questions apply from a five machine job shop to a multi-site plant. #### What is DNC and do I need it? **Answer:** DNC is a system for sending NC programs to machines over a network, often with revision control and access rules. It is useful once you have more than a few machines or if you must prove which program ran on which job. #### How often should we reassess? **Answer:** Once or twice a year, or after a major change such as a new CAM system, ERP or machine. Compare scores by area to see where improvement has been made. #### Does a high score mean we are ready for automation? **Answer:** It means your data is in good enough shape to connect and analyze. Automation still needs clear ownership, access rules and human approval for any change that affects production. ## Search terms cnc shop assessment, nc program management maturity, cnc tool data management, program revision control cnc, machine shop digital maturity, cnc setup documentation audit, tool crib management assessment, dnc program control --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json