# Introduction

Learn what Tooling Metrics does, how these docs are laid out, and where to start.

Source: https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/

- [Before you begin](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/before-you-begin.md): Get your account, organization, and demo data ready before starting any tutorial series.
- [Import records from a spreadsheet](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/import-from-a-spreadsheet.md): Bring vendors, items, stock rules, machines, parts, and materials into Tooling Metrics from a CSV or Excel file, and export them back.
- [The tool digital twin](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/digital-twin.md): How Tooling Metrics mirrors every physical tool in the system — what data it needs, what it tracks automatically, and what you can read back.
- [How the digital tool flow works](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/tool-lifecycle.md): How Tooling Metrics connects every stage of your tool lifecycle and why it works this way.
- [User interface](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/interfaces.md): Descriptions of every interface area and component in Tooling Metrics.
- [Glossary](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/glossary.md): What every term, concept, and object in the platform means — the shared vocabulary that the modules, and the rest of this documentation, are built on.
- [Release Notes](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/changelog.md): The Tooling Metrics release notes list what is new, improved, changed, and fixed in each release of the tool management software for machine shops.

## [Quickstart](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/quickstart.md)

- [Stage I: Library](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/quickstart/library.md): Populate the product library, build tool assemblies, and calculate cutting data.
- [Stage II: Engineering](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/quickstart/engineering.md): Register the machine, document the production process, and release the project for purchasing and production.
- [Stage III: Inventory](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/quickstart/inventory.md): Set up storage devices and count starting stock.
- [Stage IV: Purchasing](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/quickstart/purchasing.md): Configure vendors and stock rules so required items are ordered automatically.
- [Stage V: Production](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/quickstart/production.md): Assemble tools, pick from the warehouse, set up the machine, record runtime, and return tools.
- [Stage VI: Analytics](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/start-here/quickstart/analytics.md): Create dashboards to review tool life, usage cost, and inventory performance.

Tooling Metrics is tool management software for CNC machine shops. It handles tool life cycle management in one cloud-based system, connecting your tool data across the whole workflow, from process design and purchasing through inventory, assembly, machining, and analytics.

New here? [Create your account](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/account/tutorials/create-your-account/), read **Before you begin**, then work through the **Quickstart**. Setting up one role? Go straight to its module:

| Module | Who uses it |
|---|---|
| [Library](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/library/) | Tooling Engineer |
| [Engineering](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/engineering/) | CNC Programmer / Process Engineer |
| [Inventory](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/inventory/) | Inventory Controller |
| [Purchasing](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/purchasing/) | Purchaser |
| [Production](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/production/) | Tool Room / Setup / Operator |
| [Analytics](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/analytics/) | Production Manager |
| [Administration](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/admin/) | System Administrator |

Each module sorts its articles the same way: **Overview** explains how the module works, **Get started** holds tutorials to follow in order, **Guides** one task each, and **Reference** every field, status, and setting. [Your account](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/account/) covers your own sign-up, profile, notifications, and API tokens, and [API](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/api/) is for developers building an integration.