TCMax has been tested with the USAF Standard Desktop and works without any changes!  TAS will NOT work with the standard desktop (or so we are told), and even if it does the standard desktop has too many fonts for TAS to handle which will cause data to be lost randomly.

Print AF 2005 order forms directly from TCMax from 4 different screens!  T.O.'s are identified by checking the T.O. check box.  There is a special inspection report for T.O.'s.  New status of a tool is displayed in bold blue letters at the top of the main screen when you scan a tool without turning it in.  MIL reports.  Spares reports.

AF 1297 Temporary Issue (Hand Receipt) printed with Ctrl-E

New For WRM equipment, you store the WRM calibration date (typically 520 days from the actual calibration) in an inspection titled WRM.  If you issue the item then the WRM inspection is deleted and the Calibration Due Date is automatically set to the new real due date based upon the interval that was in the inspection.   TCMax says "Attention"  to warn you to write the new calibration date on the item. To everyone else, WRM is equipment that is in storage and is calibrated every 520 days as long as it is not used.  Once it is used the calibration date changes to a much shorter interval.  We now automate this process.

Although seeing the current list of issued tools only requires a single keystroke (Alt-S) with TCMax, one ANG customer asked to be able to see the issued tools list while actually issuing and turning in tools.  That is now added with Ctrl-S.  This new issued tools screen covers most of the right side of the screen, and automatically hides itself when necessary.

TAS migration tool reads your legacy TAS data including tools, T.O.'s, spares, kits, issue history, and currently issued tools into the TCMax database.  It creates separate "shop codes" based on the first four of the WWID which TCMax uses in an enterprise fashion to separate your data while allowing management to see data mixed together.   The correct latest version is 1.2.114.  If you have a previous version of the TAS migration tool please download it via www.soaringsoftware.com/tcmaxl5/TASImport.exe and save it into your c:\Snap-on\TCMax\ folder

Create a deployable TAS database set of files by issuing your tools and equipment (just like TAS) then press Ctrl-D to select all tools issued to either a specific person or a specific location.

New Kit Builder screen (Ctrl-K) allows you to easily build tool kits, copying from an existing kit, moving from an existing kit, copying from any existing stock, and copying from the Snap-on tool box.  This kit building screen does not need all of the extra clicks required by TAS.

We have added the ACC Form 140 (CTK inventory & Control Log) and we were about to add the ACC Form 146 (Missing/Removed Tools and Equipment) when we realized that the only reason to have these forms is because of the limitations of TAS.  With TAS you can NOT issue tools out of a tool box because TAS fails to identify each tool with a barcode number of its own.  With TCMax, tools are assigned to a tool kit via our Parent barcode number.  And since each tool in TCMax has its own unique ID you can issue things out of the tool box.  With TCMax, missing and broken tools are issued out of the box and tracked in the Issued Tools screen like any other tool.  And if you should try to issue the tool box at a later date you get a "Caution tool removed!" warning.  So, for now the ACC Form 140 remains but we are holding off on the ACC Form 146 as it would not be required when using TCMax.

The following paragraphs are meant for aircraft maintenance organizations that have the mandate to use TAS.  We have already had great success with other USAF organizations such as Security Police using TCMax to issue virtually everything including weapons.

A few years ago the United States Air Force "Air Staff" selected "TAS" as the Air Force standard tool control software.  They chose software that continues to fail to comply with multiple Air Force regulations!

TAS fails to comply with AFI 21-101 Chapter 10.4 which mandates that you know where your tools are!  TAS does NOT ask you where you are taking your tools and therefore you can not know where to look upon discovering a lost tool other than using your paper trail, if there is one.  You must rely on CAMS or your job log.  If one person issues the tools but another does the CAMS work there is no link between the two.

In addition, AFI 21-101 Chapter 10.11.1.1 states: "Do not create a new EID (Equipment Identification Designator) for TMDE assets.  Utilize the existing bar code number on the AFTO Form 65 (metallic) or AFTO form 67 (non-metallic) attached by PMEL."  TAS can NOT use TMDE identification barcodes, only flexible programs like TCMax are able to handle all types of barcode identification.

TCMax^® asks you where you are taking your tools providing a permanent audit trail of who, what, and WHERE each tool has gone.  TCMax lets you use anything, one to 50 characters, alpha numeric to identify tools and equipment and employees, even using your military or civilian ID card.

One more USAF requirement that TAS fails to comply with, tracking Hazmat items.  One unit's MSEP inspection revealed a requirement to track where hazardous items are used and where a bottle currently in use is located.  The Hazmat Pharmacy labels everything with barcode labels however TAS can not use that barcode as the barcode does not fit the very limited TAS 9 digit code.  New in TCMax version 7.1, track hazmat consumption by weight of product used!

TAS Migration Tool:  We have developed and tested a program that will transfer TAS tool information directly into TCMax, and TCMax tool and employee information directly into your TAS database in mere seconds!  This tool is free to all TCMax customers and to any current TAS customer that is interested in trying our software.  With this tool you can use TCMax every day then dump your TCMax tools into TAS to deploy with another unit that only uses TAS.

The migration tool imports Spares and marks them as expendable, multiple issue.  Also it imports Kits, and makes the appropriate Parent Barcode number relationship while automatically generating barcode numbers for each item in the kit.  And we now import TAS historical information.

TCMax Advantages:

Contact us if you would like more information or a TCMax CD.

New things recently added to TCMax for USAF

1. Press F1 while on the main screen to get a reminder page of the shortcut keys
2. AF2005’s, print them from the main screen, tool search screen, purchase order screen, and the ‘Show tools that are out’ (issued tools) screen
   1. From the main screen press Ctrl-2  (for 2005) when a tool is displayed on the main screen
   2. From the search, PO, or issued tools screens there is a menu option to print the 2005
   3. Print selected line item or all items in the table
   4. Three copies of the 2005 appear on a single page
   5. Setup your defaults for delivery destination, shop codes, etc in the Other Reports/ US Military reports screen
   6. Setup also from the main screen by pressing Ctrl-5 (also for 2005)
3. With no employee number/work location on the screen, scanning a tool barcode will display the item and if is currently issued it will tell you who has it and where they have it in bold blue letters at the top of the screen
4. T.O.’s now have their own reports for inspections.  TCMax knows it is a T.O. when you check the new T.O. check box on the lower right portion of the main screen, on the Purchase Orders & Misc. tab
   1. Remember there is an “Inspection Update” mode of operation in TCMax.  Use that when you are doing things like updating T.O. inspections, it is faster then clicking the Edit button on the main screen to manually update the inspection but either way works.
5. MIL report, optionally print a single tool box
6. Barcodes added to CTK MIL report optionally
7. Timer to automatically clear the employee/location from the screen after a preset time, can be set in 1 minute intervals, minimum of one minute
8. Duplicate button now optionally duplicates all children too.  So, create one Kit (tool box filled with tools) and click the duplicate button and you get another tool box, filled with tools with proper parent/child relationships
9. TAS Import tool
   1. Multiple shops, you can now select all shops, all base codes, or limit the import to a single base code and/or a single shop
   2. Inspections are now imported
   3. Each tool is assigned a “Shop Code” that is based on the first four of the WWID.  In TCMax the shop code can be used to separate tools and equipment so you only see your shop’s stuff.  Management can see multiple shops or all shops if they like
   4. T.O.’s automatically check the new T.O. field in our STOCK table
10. New CTK reports
11. Optionally we capture characters 2-15 of the CAC card for those with a 2-D barcode scanner
12. The new F9 key will bring up the first four of your WWID (actually brings up the tool prefix from the Preferences screen)
13. USAF Preferences button on the Maintenance/Preferences screen ID card tab will set many of the new options automatically.
14. Label Maker program, new label type with Parent barcode on top, Description on bottom, barcode in center for the tool itself.
15. We were asked by one unit to optionally, with a single keystroke, send an order to Quizno’s to place an order for sub’s … we failed to add that and it is not on our to do list.
16. Kit Builder screen
17. Attachments for every tool that automatically display themselves with a Ctrl-A
18. Table that shows all currently issued tools visible from the main screen

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Last modified: February 07, 2008