Inventory/asset management software

[Alan Evans]

I'm trying to help (read: I'm not getting paid) a family member find
an inventory management software for his small business but I'm
spinning my wheels. He leases/installs scaffolding for contractors in
manufacturing facilities and other industrial type businesses. He is
aware that pieces are being lost/stolen but without some kind of
tracking is unable to put specific numbers on it.

I being in IT am familiar with IT asset management software and have
worked for companies that implement large ERP systems that have
inventory management components. But these softwares don't seem to
apply here. ERP = way too big/pricey, IT asset management = not
scaffolding, also its probably prohibitively time consuming to
inventory EVERY piece...

Does anyone have any recommendations for inventory/asset management?
I figure someone on the list has used or supported some software for
managing these kinds of assets before.

Regards,
-Alan

[Roger S]

Not positive, but think this might be built into small business
accounting packages like QuickBooks. You could treat it as inventory
of product, bill it out when sent to a site, then process a return
when it comes back. Then the app would track the inventory and where
it went.

[Mark Pirkola]

I believe most database packages can be utilized for inventory management. I would recommend using bar codes to help control equipment location.

 

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[Paul Kerchen]

Just ran across this article today, which may be of use:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-top-apps-for-managing-inventory/1505

Paul

[James Kemp]

I'm gonna guess that building a database to track inventory is not the issue.  The issue is entering all that data into a database. 

In other words, each little bit of scaffolding would need a scannable (if that's a word) bar-code.  Someone would then need to "scan" each bit as it comes off the job site.  A quick query against the database would generate a list of outstanding (ie. lost) bits.

So, the harder problem is committing to a bar-code system.  Probably would add a lot of work for someone to scan all those items between each job site.  Still, maybe the system would pay for itself if your family member business's could back charge the contractors for missing items.

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[Jerry Bocci]

It doesn't necessarily have to mean a bar code on every piece of equipment.  Do you care if a particular bar goes missing from a job site, or just the fact that one is missing?

Army Logistics classifies materials into two general categories: Serialized items each have an identifier, which marks that particular one as unique; Non-serialized, or "bulk" items don't have this - the count going into the field and the count coming back is what matters.  Think "Gas Mask" (serialized, as it is fitted to a particular soldier's face) vs. "Filter Canisters" (non-serialized).  A soldier may be issued one mask, but 10 canisters, when he (or she) goes into the field.  When he comes back, the mask is accounted for, but the canisters are just counted.

For your particular situation, the serialized items (expensive tools, large equipment, etc.) would each have their own bar code, but not the bulk items (the scaffolding bars).  The warehouse manager could have a sheet of bar codes for those, next to the scanning station, which just say "Vertical Support" or "Cross Beam" (or whatever is appropriate for scaffolds).  When a bulk item is scanned, the operator just needs to enter the quantity.  If they're not grouped, the app merely totals the quantities per item, compares that total to what was issued, and you have your answer.

The same goes for RFID-enabled systems; the less-numerous items get the unique identifiers, while the high-quantity stock get genericized chips.  The RFID reader tallies the items as they come into range, and the application displays the results.

[Alan Evans]

Yes that is the bit that is confusing to me. Scanning each piece
would seem to be a major time suck. If however someone just did a
"100x part 1, 125x part b, 150 part c" checkin/out that seems like it
might be reasonable.

An obvious solution seems to be to use RFID but I wonder about the
expense of the system to do that. While individual RFID tags have
come way down in cost the system around it might be prohibitively
expensive. Further what about readers? Could you just scan an entire
trailer or truck load as it passes in/out of a warehouse? Would the
fact that the pieces are largely metal cause interference with the
reader/tags? My exposure to RFID is limited, does it even work that
way? Or is it all proximity based like HID badges?

I really think the way to go in this case is something like the
aforementioned check-in/checkout with quantity type method. The
problem then becomes a procedural/training problem for which I have
not yet been asked to find a solution. :)

I've given my uncle my thoughts and forwarded on the article that Paul
found. (thank you Paul) I think most of all he should ask the
company from whom he buys the equipment. They may have already
skinned this cat. Perhaps they will factory install bar-codes or RFID
tags and even resell or recommend a software solution.

Regards,
-Alan

On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 5:38 PM, James Kemp <Jim....@ph-elec.com> wrote:

[Greg Smith]

but one only should need to track capital items not expense items, i.e. just major tools not small hand tools etc and that includes hand electric like drills etc.
and not supplies. at least only start there.

Greg Smith
GregS...@aol.com