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Posted by Matt M. on January 31, 2008, 6:23 pm
On Jan 26, 8:28=A0am, cadco...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> > I need to put in place a tool tracking solution at my construction
> > project.
>
> Here are a few more thoughts, but they are untested;
>
> RFID could still be a good way to hunt for a missing tool. =A0There are
> RFID keychain finders available now that have a reasonable range.
> (many RFID systems work in the range of a few inches). The long range
> ones normally require a battery in the tag. If I recall, the battery
> in the key chain tag lasted about 3 mos, but more industrial versions
> last over a year. Sorry, I can't find the article about the key-chain
> finder. but I just Googled and found this article;
>
> http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/14/rfid-prevents-power-tool-theft/
>
> I wonder if weight would be a good way to track tools. If they are on
> rolling boxes, then rolling it over a scale should give you an
> indication of if something were missing.
>
> A way to visually track if a tool is missing is to make a mark where
> they go. =A0for example on a peg-board, with the tool in place, trace
> around the tool with a marker. Then you can easily see where it goes,
> or if something is missing. Of course, you need to keep it updated...
> the problem is how to erase the mark for a tool you no longer have.
>
> Perhaps an easier way is to glue hangers for each tool, and mark the
> name of the tool with a sticker on top of the hook. =A0Then an empty
> hanger indicates a missing tool.
>
> For tools that can't be hung, or in drawers in a tool box, place a
> sheet of foam in the drawer. =A0Lay the tools in an orderly way on the
> foam, and trace around them. =A0Then cut out the foam to form a place to
> hold the tool. Remove the foam and glue a sheet of cardboard to form a
> bottom to the pocket, so that small tools don't slide underneath the
> foam.
>
> I must be in the mood to ramble. =A0Anyway, let everyone know your
> solution.
>
> Joe Dunfee
We have decided to use bar coded stickers to track the tools. RFID
tags for a metal tool cost $2 each compared to a bar code that costs
1.4 cents per sticker. For 8,000+ tools, the cost savings is
significant and a potential theif can peel off a RFID tag as easily as
a bar code.
A funny story: Our project has purchased a lot of beefy golf carts to
drive arround the project. They have transponders in them. A few
months ago, the police recovered a few of them in the back of a
trailer headed to California. I wish I could do that for every tool!
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