Building a stockroom

[Dennis Lewanowicz]

Since this is my first post let me give a little background. I've been a PM for the last 10 and in construction for the last 20 years. I've recently took a position as a Facilities Manager in a local property management company. We have about 50 properties with an average of 3 apartments and 1 storefront in each that we're lording over.:mrgreen: We're currently going through growing pains and we're making some changes to the way we do things. One of them is the following:

I'm about to build a storeroom/shop/office/conference room in a building the company owns. I just finished designing the fit out and sent it over to the archy to draw it up. So far it's been pretty simple and right up my alley.

Now I need to put a system in place to track items in the stock room and manage the company owned tools and trucks that go in and out of the building. The men take the trucks home so that isn't an issue but the tools and materials are, that's what I'm worried about. I'm thinking of using an RFID system for access (keycard) and for the tools and a barcode system for the stock. That way the building (computer) will know who took what tool and when by being able to tell when the tag/person leaves.

I've been doing a lot of reading and I'm not sure if the system cost (2-10,000) is worth it or should I go with a sign out sheet. The stock will cost in excess of about 70-100k and I'll have 20 maintenance guys to keep track of.

Another avenue I'm considering is a full time runner. That way I'll only have to teach 1 person the rules and one person will be made accountable.

Any thoughts or ideas? This is all in the planning stage right now and the building will be started when the weather gets cold but I want to start putting systems together now.

For the record here's the software I'm leaning towards.

http://www.gigatrak.com/software/default_081710.aspx

[Jeffrey K.]

Why do you have so many guys. I manage a little less than you and only have three people. One to do the books, one to do maintenence, and me to help with both and leasing. We bring in subs from time to time on bigger stuff like plumbing and hvac. But 3o guys for 200 units. I dont know how you make money?