b'BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CSIA 37T hats the nature of tool theft. Its costly.At Robert Bosch Tool Corp., Prospect, Ill., Tammy Some experts rate the annual cost of job- Bauer, Pro User marketing manager, agrees. When site theft, which includes materials othertools are not managed or tracked effectively, it can thantools,atabout$400million.Toollead to a higher likelihood of assets walking off the theft eats away at a companys profit margin, andjob site. Tools can be lost, misplaced or stolen in it strikes right at the core of a trade worker. Usingtransit. One of the most common things we hear these tools is how skilled workers demonstrate theirfrom our customers is that workers will leave the value and talent. Losing one hurts. job site early to head home for the day, realize they left their tools at the job site, but decide not to turn Security experts identify lots of techniques workersaroundanddrivebackbecausetheyrealready should use to protect tools from theft or loss. Theyclose to home.include:One of the most common mistakes, says Dean 1.Paint or engrave your tools Gagliano, associate product manager, One- Key tool trackingservicesforMilwaukeeTool,Brookfield, 2.Keep them in a lock box Wis., although I wouldnt call it a mistake, is workers being careless with their items. At the end of the 3.Install job-site security cameras day, theyre doing things in a rush and they forget to lock up a tool. Its more an opportunity situation 4.Remove the batteries or chargers when tools become stolen. Tools getting misplaced or lost is a completely different thing. Theyre not 5.Take them home taking proper precautions, not taking it back to the toolbox. Theyre giving the opportunity to thieves.6.Install fences to limit access to the site.Create a ProcessAll of those things are good, but there are three things in particular, that can significantly cut down on toolThe surest way to protect the investment of your theft and take advantage of modern technologies. toolsistocreateatrackingprocessandassign responsibility. The responsibility includes everyone 1.Create a tool management process from management, who has to set up the process,CENTRAL STATES INSULATION ASSOCIATIONto the warehouse managers and site supervisors to 2.Keep an inventory the tradesperson using the tool. Lost or stolen tools are the responsibility of all.3.Make individuals responsibleTherearesimplewaystodothis.Keepan Michael Stoller is director of product managementinventory of all your tools that is managed by the for Stanley Black & Decker, New Britain, Conn., andwarehouse manager. That person checks out tools he says, Weve looked at tool loss a lot of differentto the job site, where the site supervisor then has ways. One of the conclusions is tool loss is less aboutresponsibility. He or she can then assign tools to theft and more about good processes that preventspecific trade people.things from walking away. When we encounter some companies, they have no visibility between the toolNo matter if youre using technology or not, you have crib and the job site. The warehouse manager willto have a process for tracking your tools and keeping assign 200 tools and assets to sites. Things willthem inventoried. Anything that goes to the job site break. Nobody will check them in at the end of theneeds to be tracked and on the job site, craftspeople week. That lack of process leads to lack of visibility. need to be assigned responsibility for any tool they use. No matter how you work that, whether you use continuedpg.38csiaonline.org'