GPS-Tool-Tracking-System: Maximizing Efficiency

In many medium and large companies, the recurring problem is that tools cannot be found at certain locations, and it must first be determined where the sought-after tool is currently in use. This ranges from screw tools to injection molding tools. Simply asking "Is the tool currently at its storage location in the cleaning or service station?" during the retooling of the system often costs unnecessary search time. Instead of dealing with manual booking errors, digital systems based on a GPS-Tool-Tracking-System can quickly provide relief here. The times when search times lead to production delays are over. GPS-Tool-Tracking allows you to get an overview of tool availability in seconds at any time:

Tool availability
Tool borrowers
Tool maintenance dates
Tool charge levels
Tool data
Tool locations

Companies with an efficient GPS-Tool-Tracking-System can significantly reduce shrinkage and search times, saving costs and increasing efficiency.

The tool and machinery inventory in many companies is growing larger and more expensive, making optimal availability, utilization, and management increasingly important economically. It costs every company time and money when work equipment is loaned to external locations or other plant sections and is not available in time or even disappears.

With GPS-Tool-Tracking, data can be captured and processed in real-time. Those responsible can view the data not only in intelligent computer systems but also in a smartphone app, allowing for better planning. Intelligent systems not only recognize the current location of specific tools or equipment but also, for example, the charge status of electrical devices or the fill level of liquids by networking various sensor technologies.

What causes losses and high search times for tools in companies?

The following causes can lead to losses and high search times in companies:

Manual entry or scanning leads to booking errors in the system or Excel spreadsheet. As a result, the entered location no longer matches the actual physical location of the tool.
Tool forgotten or left at the place of use
Loan to other company departments
Tool breakage due to reaching the end of service life or inadequate maintenance
Transfer to third parties

Simply knowing that certain tools are no longer available already helps many companies in planning. Often, the absence of a tool is only noticed when it is needed for the next use. Then it is often too late, leading to downtime and delays that cost companies a lot of money.

GPS-Tool-Tracking-System with GEOFENCE function

Especially for high-quality and special tools, the use of GPS-Tool-Tracking-Systems is worthwhile, as they can now also be equipped with a geofence function. A specific area of use is defined for tools and machines via software. If, for example, a tool is moved out of this zone, a notification is immediately sent to the responsible person's smartphone or computer. This way, they have direct information that the tool is, for example, back at its storage location or has just been stolen. In automotive plants, it can be determined, for example, whether the tool is currently in use at the system or can soon be scheduled for loan to another area.

What can tool loss lead to?

Tools that cannot be found or are lost lead to time-consuming and costly search operations in companies. Instead of working productively in the company, employees spend their time searching for tools and cannot pursue their actual tasks during this time. Tools that are not at the right place at the right time often lead to delays in completion or, in the worst case, production outages. This leads to customer dissatisfaction and financial damage. Sometimes even a missing screw tool can cause delays. The more individual the tool, the greater the damage from delays.

How does a GPS-Tool-Tracking-System work?

A GPS-Tool-Tracking-System involves the interaction of a GPS-Tracker that transmits its position, which is processed and evaluated by a software solution like thingsHub. GPS stands for Global Positioning System and was originally developed in the USA. It is based on several satellites orbiting the Earth and sending signals at specific intervals, which are received by GPS-Trackers. By sending and receiving three or four satellite signals, the position of the Tracker can be determined relatively accurately due to the time delay caused by the signal transmission - sometimes up to a meter accuracy.

The prerequisite is the prior attachment of a suitable GPS-Tracker to the tool. Such Asset-Tracker are available in different sizes, designs, and performance classes. The experts from staging-smartmakersio.kinsta.cloud are happy to advise you on this.

The four phases of GPS tracking

Tracking with a GPS-Tool-Tracking-System occurs in four phases:

The device is located
The data is sent to a server
The data is processed by a tracking system like thingsHub
An evaluation of the data takes place on a display device, e.g., PC screen or smartphone

All phases occur in seconds, so GPS tracking can be considered real-time processing, as the data is available "in real-time."

Conventional tool tracking versus modern GPS-Tool-Tracking-System

In many companies, there is no digital tool tracking or Asset Tracking at all. Paper lists, tool accompanying cards, or Excel spreadsheets are still used to record when and where a tool was loaned. These are often kept incomplete because manual data entry leads to errors.

Companies that have left the paper age behind have a rudimentary tracking solution, can locate individual tools, but do not have software solutions that correspond to today's state of development and thus bring the greatest benefit to the company.

What modern GPS-Tool-Tracking-Systems can achieve:

On mobile devices, it can be displayed at any time where which tool is currently located and in what condition. Employees can always see on their smartphone or tablet whether the respective tool is currently in use at a production facility, is at its storage location, or has been loaned to another company location.

Advantages of GPS tracking of tools

The following 3 advantages are particularly what a modern GPS-Tracking-Tool-System can offer:

Reduction of tool theft - loss
Increased efficiency in tool management and maintenance
Increased productivity through better utilization of tools and constant knowledge of their location and condition

Tools are more frequently and quickly where they should be

Through GPS-supported tool tracking, it can be ensured that tools are where they should be in time. Maintenance intervals can also be monitored and sensibly integrated into work planning. Tools do not need to be procured twice or three times.

Higher productivity through fewer failures due to missing tools

Since the tool is more frequently and quickly where it should be due to a tool GPS-Tracking-System, productivity increases. There are fewer failures due to search times and coordination times.

In which industries can GPS tracking of tools help?

Knowing whether your own tools are at the production site, at an external warehouse, or with an external service provider is useful for every medium-sized and large company today. Especially in the manufacturing industry or in manufacturing companies such as the automotive and mechanical engineering industries, but also in the construction industry, tool tracking can be of great benefit. The absence of tool sets, stamping or screw tools can have enormous impacts on production - from delays to standstill.

Conclusion: GPS-Tool-Tracking-Systems can increase the efficiency of many companies

If you want to increase efficiency in operational business, you can achieve this very well with a GPS-Tool-Tracking-System. Installing GPS-Trackers alone is not enough. The decisive factor is the intelligent networking of information through the right software with the appropriate hardware. The experts from Smartmakers are happy to advise you on the right solution for your application. Based on customer references, you can learn where and how solutions have already been successfully implemented. Reducing material expenses and tool losses and increasing process efficiency are the motivation for many companies to also opt for such a solution and introduce tool tracking in their company.

How a GPS-Tool-Tracking-System Minimizes Tool Search Times and Losses and Maximizes Efficiency