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Tool Tracking: 4 Ways It Can Help Your Business

Does your business rely heavily on the tools that you have available for your employees?  If so, you are well aware of the problems that can arise when tools break or go missing. Lost, broken, or unavailable tools can lead to the delay of deadlines and unhappy clients.  And, as we all know, unhappy clients are bad for business. With the proper tool tracking technology in place, you can mitigate these problems and ensure that you meet deadlines in a timely manner.

1. Reduce time spent looking for lost or misplaced tools

First and foremost, RFID technology will reduce the time that you spend trying to locate tools. Improper tool scheduling, human error, and even theft can take place within your business. Locating a missing tool is a time-consuming headache that delays production and profit. If you have determined that a tool really is missing, then you have the additional headache of ordering another and waiting until it arrives. Thus, even further pushing back production and profit, not to mention the cost that accompanies the replacement purchase.

With RFID technology, you will all but eliminate the hassle that is locating lost and misplaced tools. Rugged read-on-metal passive RFID tags with a 20 foot range are the optimal solution for businesses that rely heavily upon the tools that they have available. RFID readers eliminate the need for barcodes that, in rugged environments, can get too dirty or worn to read.

2. Schedule preventative maintenance

Some tools require more upkeep than others. It’s easy to lose track of the maintenance that each individual tool requires. When that happens, tools start breaking and the next thing you know, you are overwhelmed with the cost that it will take to replace several tools so that your employees can continue the project and race to meet deadlines.

RFID technology solutions can track each tool’s maintenance and calibration. By looking at each tool’s maintenance record, you will know exactly when each tool will need preventative maintenance done. With RFID tool tracking, you will save replacement costs for damaged tools and ensure that your projects stay on schedule.

3. View usage history reports

Tool tracking also allows you to view each tool’s usage history report. If a tool comes up missing or damaged, you will quickly and easily be able to identify which employee had the tool last. RFID tool tracking eliminates the “he said, she said” finger pointing that accompanies lost or broken tools. Locating who was responsible for the tool last is quick and easy.

4. Easily schedule and determine the availability of tools and equipment

Tool tracking allows you to easily schedule out tools and determine each tool’s availability. Each RFID tag is unique. That means that RFID tool tracking will allow you to track individual tools, telling you which employee has the tool you are looking for, how long it has been in use, or if the tool is currently available for use.

Such efficient tool tracking methods have allowed for companies to save money through superior inventory control and the ability to share expensive tools between facilities or sites instead of purchasing a tool for each. If you are a business owner looking for an effective way to improve your tool tracking methods, RFID tool tracking is the ideal solution for you.