I'm the person unofficially in charge of the Field Crew Equipment, and we have 11 "units"/trucks worth of equipment. Currently my inventory system is a mixture of write serial numbers down, take a picture, and input data into Excel spreed sheets per unit, and save the pictures as well. It works, but I know there has got to be a better way because I feel there is too much time being spent on incoming/outgoing surveying equipment inventory, and I'm looking into better options. I.E. I would love to have some sort of bar code/QR code [digitized black & white squares] scanning system, pending the Boss's approval of cost and effectiveness of method.
Has anyone ever used the ASAP Systems inventory management program & services? I haven't found anything on their cost yet, do you know? Has anyone ever used a similar product?
I've heard about QR codes on the Trimble GPS cases for an easy scan and check in of geographic location of the equipment once a week. I recently had lightly used equipment returned the office, due to layoffs, and most of my waterproof labels from a label maker were still on there.
But what about having those bar/QR codes on the GPS head units, the data collectors, tripods, and Schonstedts? (The Boss wants labels on every piece of equipment.) I've worked in the field and know that things get dirty quick and beat up in a relatively short time frame.
I welcome any advice you can pass along!! 😀
We have a bar code system on our equipment, mandated by management. It is a broken system because they removed much of the equipment from inventory then tried to add it back in. Then they failed to put bar codes on some of our new equipment. If it were set up right it would be a good way to keep up with the gear.
