Tool tracking tech could save firms €1000s

Working on-site often requires that employees come equipped with an array of specialist tools. However, forgetting any of those tools at the end of the day can be costly. In fact, experts estimate the cost to businesses as €450 a year – per van. ¹

 
Our engineers in Aachen, Germany, have completed a pilot project that could enable companies to monitor the location of their tools and machines at all times, using Bluetooth™ connectivity and GPS tracking. ² The system uses special devices placed inside toolboxes and on equipment to connect to company vehicles and a central server.

 

These tracking devices enable each vehicle to remind drivers when a tool is not in the vehicle and may have been left behind on-site. The tracking also enables companies to know where every tool or machine is at any given time and can coordinate with employees to transport specific tools to other sites when they are urgently needed.

“Even the most attentive worker can leave behind a toolbox at the end of a long day or forget a hand tool when rushing to another job. On busy sites, tools can sometimes get mixed up or be stolen if left overnight. As work projects often have tight schedules, spending time to replace lost equipment can cause a cascade of problems, with every delay costing time and money.”

Walter Pijls, supervisor, CV Ecosystems,

Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford of Europe

 
In addition to the cost of replacing the missing tools, businesses would also benefit from employees not losing time by having to check or search for tools manually or pick up forgotten tools.

Administrators save time by not having to check required inventory, while the system enables more efficient forward planning, with the right tools loaded into vans for the coming workdays.

“Before, we had an inefficient paper-trail of logbooks and inventory lists, and it was a serious challenge locating things. Not only can we now easily keep track of all our equipment, we have the benefit of data, where we can see which tools are being used and how often, which tools we need more of and which tools are reaching the end of their lifecycle.”

Dennis Schmidt-Demel, project supervisor,

Maintenance, Demel Garten- und Landschaftsbau

 
Tools can be searched for and located based on “vehicle”, “storage”, “tool type” and “tool name”. A live map also shows the location of all the company’s equipment, while tools can be listed as “working”, “broken” or in “maintenance”. If a tool is left in a vehicle overnight, the driver receives a theft alert when any tools are taken out of the vehicle. 

The research and development of this feature is part of our new worldwide sales and servicing business, Ford Pro, centred around improving commercial vehicle customers’ productivity with world-class vehicles and cutting-edge products and services.
 
 
¹ The potential financial saving, as calculated by the chair of marketing at RWTH Aachen University, is estimated at approximately €38 per vehicle per month. Also, workers are estimated to save around an hour per week by not having to check or search for tools, while administrators are estimated to save almost two hours per week through more efficient coordination of tools and vans. 
 
² This communication feature is currently not available for purchase.
 
Bluetooth™ is a registered trademark of Bluetooth Inc

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