By United Rentals
For many contractors, having the right tools for a construction project is essential for staying on budget and on schedule. One option available today to help you manage your tools and equipment is on-site managed tool trailers. These trailers provide companies with rental tools and small equipment and consumable supplies, that are custom stocked for your specific project.
Managed tool trailers also make it easy for workers to know where to go for the tools they need with those tools guaranteed to be in good working order. If a tool is broken during use, the trailer is equipped to swap it out immediately for an on-site backup. Tool trailer inventories can include power tools, chain hoists, piping tools, welding, torque wrenches, lighting, pneumatic-powered tools, radios, and more, all of which can be tracked with GPS software.
Here are three ways managed tool trailers can help your company be more productive.
Right-size tool inventory
A right-sized managed tool inventory can be created using a project’s craft curve and historical data from previous projects, if available, along with utilization data from other customers with similar projects. On-site inventory can be expanded during craft peaks and contracted when fewer tools are needed, so a work site always has the right tools and the right amount of them. Without an inventory system, companies may over-invest in their tools supply, and workers can hoard tools or be careless about returning them.
Improve tool tracking
Every time a worker comes to the tool trailer to pick up a tool or PPE consumable, a barcode is scanned, as is the worker’s ID badge. If an item goes missing, you'll know who took it and when. If someone needs a tool that is onsite but not in the tool trailer, you can quickly track down who has it and determine if they still need it. When the item is returned, the barcode is scanned, and the item is added back to the inventory list. At regular intervals, companies can receive a tool utilization report. If the reports show certain tools are not being used and not immediately needed for the next project phase, they can be returned to the tool trailer provider to reduce company costs.
Increase productivity
Having the right tool at the right time and in functioning condition generates increased productivity with built-in cost savings. A managed tool trailer provider guarantees rental tools will be in working order at all times and stocks the necessary volume at no additional cost to the customer in order to deliver on that promise. The barcode tracking system reduces hoarding and helps ensure that every worker has what is needed. When workers have functional tools at their fingertips, productivity increases by an average of 23%, according to United Rentals research.
