Tools, What Tool?

ESAHC

I have approx thirty employees broke down into about six crews. One issue I'm having is keeping track of tools. I'm tired of calling the list of guys to find out where this trailer is at or who's got the mig welder or who's got the finish nailers, and so on. Currently we have a warehouse/tool room but seems everytime I turn around the guys don't know where something is at and fingers go to pointing. Not saying that guys are stealing them just forgetting they have them or not owning up to breaking them or replacing them with no one's knowledge and even misplacing them. I've install a GPS system on the trailers and big equipment but don't know what to do with some of the smaller tools and equipment. Is there something out there that I don't know about?

Tom Struble

not sure but i think dewalt has a system that can help track your hand tools

woodworkbykirk

is there any chance guys are bouncing back and forth from crew to crew and when this happens certain tools need to bounce around as well so there not being put back in the trailer, ive been in situations such as this before

one such incedent was i was on the finish crew and we got the ****ty old cordless 4 pack without a charger, the framing crew foreman felt he needed the 6 pack, the charger and the jobsite radio which has a charger in it. boss didnt understand why we were screaming for a charger.

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Schmidt & Co

A freind of mine uses a bar code system. Every tool is scaned into his system for inventory and has its own bar code sticker on it. He has his crews come to his shop & they "check out" each tool. He now has ZERO loss/theft. I'm not that anal, but then its never been much of a problem for me.

doubleaction

What would a set up like that cost?

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Bodger

I saw something about a system like this in Tools of the Trade magazine once.
It's a common problem with multiple crew contractors.

DesPro

Sounds like this may be what your looking for.
http://www.smalltooltracking.com/bro...ol4.0Flyer.pdf

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Schmidt & Co

That sounds just like what my friend is using.... Thanks for the link.

wellbuilthome

When i was running a large company my foremen where in charge of the tools . The guys supplied there own hand tools hammers screw guns levels saw sawzall drills extension cords . I supplied large tools table saw trim saw compressor ladders pumps kickers . If a guy broke a tool of his own i would have it fixed or replaced . I would make a deal with my foremen that i would split the price of a tool with them and its there's when they leave . My job trailer tools seem to turn over every 2 years any way . We misplaced some small stuff but the power tools just seem to where out .I only buy one type of saw sawzall etc so i am always changing parts to make them work . If there are to many tools missing or broken i get pissed and every one gets to chip in for a new one . Them Me
John

mrghm

this is a huge issue for my company as well.

i used to supply any thing my guys needed to get a job done but stuff was just going missing,

then stop supplying except big items, put all tools in our tool room in our warehouse but stuff was still going out the door.

now changed the locks at my warehouse and only me and my dad have a key.

we still forget whos got what but a white board should solve this issue.

platinumLLC

Do you have a foremen on each crew? If so have him be in charge of the tools. Take inventory of the trailer and write everything done. If you need to transfer tools between crews have the foremen email you where the tool went. When i worked for a large commercial company(250 employees) they gave every employee the commonly used tools. Which were panasonic cordless, hilti hammer drill, hilti powder fastener, rotary laser, layout laser, trackfast, and some others and we were responsible for them. They would replace those tools with normal wear and tear. Anything else which included welders, plasma cutters, chop saws, scaffold, generators, job boxes, lifts, etc. were assigned to jobs and the foreman on that job was responsible for them. Seemed to work good for them.

The bar code system seems nice but kinda expensive and you still have to hold someone responsible for actually scanning the tools out so why not just make them responsible and skip the bar code expense.

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bwalley

assign tools to an individual, when it comes up missing, charge them for it, when they pay for some tools, they will start taking care of your equipment better.

Most employees could care less if they leave material and equipment in the back of a truck to get rained on or stolen, because it isn't theirs and they don't pay for it.

ESAHC

Yesterday was my first day on this site and I was sceptical of anyone coming up a with a good response let alone a response at all. Thank you all for your input.

Where I'm at now is I have everyone in company having a different opinion. For the most part though, they want to see change, the only problem I'm having is the owner of the company and our Super that has been with us for 30+ yrs don't give a damn. So what ever I come up with needs to work.

This bar code system seems pretty cool, the money for it seems pretty cheap actually. You guys need to realize that the best plan I came up with was giving a each Super a 10x12 tool room of there own .... $2,900.00 in just materials. But now how do you make guys scan tools into the system? Have a guy in the office that wouldn't mind checking in and out tools but he is not always here and then what if Super A calls Super B and says, "You got the Electric Jackhammer, I need it" is Super B suppose to go all the way back to the office and check out this tool or what?
And the problem with my idea with the six rooms is that who would be responsible for some of the equipment that I only have one or two of. Floor buffers, generators, welders, trash pump, etc?

Wish we lived in a perfect world.

bwalley

Do they not care about the current tool situation, or do they not have a prefference as to how you hadle it?

If the owner and super doesn't care about the current tool situation you are wasting your time, as the employees will cry to them and they will throw you under the bus.

PA woodbutcher

If everything had it's place you could use numbered tags. Give the leads the tags and let them exchange a tag for a tool. Tools missing? what tag is in it's place and who does that tag belong too. Give the accountability to the leads, thats why they make the big bucks

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platinumLLC

I'm for giving the responsibility to the leads. One thing you might want to try is to involve all the crews and ask them what they think. The guys might have a good idea. Workers will feel more involved and you will get more cooperation out of them if you ask their opinion.

If the bar code system is in your price range and you don't trust your leads then maybe it would be good for you. As for the transferring of tools between crews you can have the foreman call in and report what tools and to who he gave it to and I'm sure you could change that in the computer.

Personally I think you looking for a perfect solution which you are not going to find. And in the end no matter what you decide it is going to come down to your leads being responsible enough to scan/report and take care of the tools you give them. If they don't want to take this responsibility nothing you do is going to work.

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Mr. Wms

Create a new position in the company for a laborer/tool manager.

His job can be:
1. Oversee the entire tool inventory
2. Clean and inpect all of the tools
3. Check out tools for each crew
4. Report to jobsite here and there to check on tool status or transport
tools.
5. Create and implement a tool waiver making each employee
responsible for their tool use and cost to replace for lose
or misuse.

My 2 cents!

dirt diggler

OP -

This can be a huge problem and profit eater. I must admit - I am BAD for leaving tools. Here's what I did to solve that problem:

1) You have to establish a "place" for that tool. Whether it's on a rack, in a box, against the wall, whatever. But if that tool is not being used on a jobsite - it MUST be kept there.

2) Have a system of accountability - just like some other guys have said - barcode system, "check-out" ... I think the barcode is an excellent idea

3) COMMIT to taking tools back from job sites. I think this is the hardest part of the system - is sticking to it religiiously.

4) Have a "punishment" for employees leaving tools onsite. Take it out of bonuses. Whatever ... but when they realize that their inability to keep track of tools is only hurting the company, let them feel it in their pockets too and they'll learn.




8 hour workdays are NOT a long time. Not long enough, most of the time. If the guys come in at 8 ... with travel, reports, AM sh*ts, they might not get to the jobsite until 9 or 10. Then, there's another hour to set up, or get into the swing of things. And then lunch. And then production normally slows in the afternoon for many companies. Then they leave the site at 3.

Throw in an hour lost having to run to another site to grab a damn hammer or something - it's easy to eat up a day.

I think getting employees to understand the concept of "time" is the most frustrating part of it all. Most people clockwatch. 8 hours to them is an eternity.

Finding good employees = toughest thing to do [and maintain doing] in business, in my opinion.

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Thanks in advance!!!

wyoming 1

I have a friend that has a company about your sise and he has a shop forman that does like the above post plus he is in charge of stock/ left over material so if a crew is short two joist hangers he checks and runs them out to the job ect.

slowforthecones

I have a barcode and rfid tag on my tools. Costs about zero to maintain but to setup costs around $3000. That includes a rfid encoder, a $1k laptop, software, label printer, barcode & rfid scanners.