Having an accurate tool inventory list will save you time and money. You won’t have to scramble to track down tools, giving you more time to be productive. When you know what tools you have, you’ll decrease the chances of replacing lost tools or buying more you don’t need.
To keep tabs on your construction tool inventory, you’ll need to figure out a system to track it. Here’s how you can create a system so you always know what inventory you have and where everything is.
MAKE AN INVENTORY LIST
The first step in tracking your tools is to build a list of what equipment you currently have. As you take stock of what tools you have, figure out what format you want to use to keep track of tools. This will determine how you collect this data. You could track tools by hand or online using an inventory spreadsheet or with the help of inventory management software.
When you create a construction tool inventory system, it won’t just help you know where your tools are at all times, but it can help you keep track of other important information like warranty information, insurance details, and maintenance and service history. Take note of this information as you make your list.
LABEL YOUR TOOLS
Your tools have to have a label that allows you to track them, like a QR code or barcode. Make sure the labels you choose are going to be able to handle wear and tear. Each tool having an ID will simplify your system. Having your tools labeled can even help decrease the rate of misplaced, lost, and stolen items.
INPUT DATA INTO A TRACKING SYSTEM
Now that you know what you have and your tools are labeled, it’s time to input this data into a tracking system, whether that’s a paper or digital spreadsheet or online platform built for this purpose.
For small crews, tracking tools by using pen and paper can be a viable option, but it’s still going to be a time-consuming job, and the designated tracker isn’t going to be able to be at all job sites at once. Consider online platforms, especially if you have a big team. As long as you and your team can dedicate time to learning an online system, it can save you time and manpower.
CATEGORIZE TOOLS
Figure out how you want to categorize and organize your tools. Do what makes sense for your team. There are some basic tools that teams might always use on every single job site, and those could be categorized separately from specific tools (like tools only used for drywall, for example). You can even choose to store these basic tools together as a bundle and give that its own QR code or barcode, rather than making teams check out common tools individually — it will take some trial and error to determine what makes the most sense for your team and is the most efficient.
TRAIN STAFF AND CREATE A CHECK-IN AND OUT SYSTEM
If you don’t take the time to train your staff or crew on the new system, it will be pointless. Your team needs a breakdown of how to use the system and should be provided a resource to refer back to about how to use the system.
BUY TOOLS AND GET REPAIRS DONE AT MILLER’S BUILDING SUPPLY
Now that you have a tool inventory system set up, you can conduct inventory audits and learn from the data collected. You’ll be able to find out what tools your crew uses the most and least, which tools require the most repairs, and more.
When your tools need to be serviced, bring them to us at Miller’s Building Supply. And when you need new tools, buy tools from us and you’ll get a 10-year service warranty.
To learn more about what we carry and our tool rental and repair services, give us a call at 574-534-3973 or stop by and see us at 1819 East Monroe Street in Goshen, Indiana.