For fabricators, tracking materials and components is crucial. Integrating stock control with your job management process is a smart move if you want better control over what’s used on projects and to boost the accuracy of your project profitability.
Let’s break down how these two processes work together and the advantages they bring, especially when using a system like WorkGuru.
Why Integrate Stock Control with Job Management?
Stock control is one of the three main types of actual costs that WorkGuru tracks, along with purchasing and timesheets. By integrating stock control into your job management process, you can shift away from buying materials for each project separately. Instead, you maintain a pool of stock that can be used across multiple projects.
This change can save you a lot of money. When you buy in bulk, you often get a lower price per unit and cut down on the shipping costs of placing multiple small orders. It’s like shopping at a bulk store—the more you buy at once, the better the deal.
Real-Word Benefits for Fabricators
Fabricators who integrate stock control with job management often see immediate advantages:
1. Cost and Time Savings
- Buying in bulk reduces per-unit costs.
- Fewer orders mean lower freight and shipping expenses.
- Streamlining purchases leads to better cash flow and less waste.
2. Administrative Efficiency
- Automating stock control reduces manual data entry.
- Teams save significant time—up to 10 hours per week—by cutting down on paperwork and repetitive tasks.
3. Better Job Planning and Execution
- Real-time inventory tracking prevents stock shortages that can delay projects.
- Ensures all materials are available when needed, keeping jobs on schedule and reducing waste.
How WorkGuru Makes Stock Control Easier
WorkGuru’s stock control features are designed to make tracking your materials simple and effective. Unlike other systems,
WorkGuru lets you monitor stock usage on a per-person basis. This means you get detailed logs of what was used, where, by whom, and when. This level of detail is crucial for keeping your projects on track and staying within budget.
Whether you’re checking out stock in real-time or reviewing usage later, WorkGuru ensures you have a clear and accurate record of your inventory. This transparency helps prevent delays and keeps your finances in check.
Getting Started with Stock Control
If you’re new to stock control, the first thing to understand is that it’s a change management process. The key word here is “control.” Effective stock control isn’t just about having a system in place—it’s about managing your stock physically and procedurally.
To make stock control work, you need to set clear boundaries around your inventory. This might mean setting up a dedicated stockroom or secure stock cage. Every item that leaves this area must be tracked in the system. If your stock is scattered around the workshop and not properly monitored, any system you use will fail to provide accurate data.
Challenges in Stock Control Implementation
One common challenge is making sure your system reflects what’s really happening. For example, it can be tough to track the usage of certain items, like paint, if you don’t have a precise way to measure how much is being used. If you can’t measure it, you can’t control it.
Another issue is ensuring that your stock levels are accurate. If your system doesn’t track stock in and out correctly, you’ll end up with wrong inventory levels, leading to wasted resources and extra costs. The key is simplicity—focus on managing what comes in and what goes out, and ensure your workflow supports accurate tracking.
WorkGuru’s Role in Integrating Stock Control
WorkGuru offers three different types of stock control: FIFO (First In, First Out), batch tracking, and serial tracking. Each level provides a different degree of accuracy, depending on your business needs.
- FIFO: This method is simple—use the oldest stock first.
- Batch Tracking: Ideal for industries like food production, this method lets you track products by batch numbers. If there’s a recall, you can quickly find out which projects used the affected stock.
- Serial Tracking: This is the most detailed method, where each product has a unique serial number. It allows you to track every item from purchase to project use but requires more administrative effort.
The more detailed the tracking, the more accurate your stock control will be. However, this also means more work, so you’ll need to find the right balance for your business.
LV Truck Cranes + WorkGuru
Based in Geelong, Victoria, LV Truck Cranes saw significant improvements in their workshop operations after switching from WorkflowMax to WorkGuru.
Chris Dynon, the workshop manager, highlighted major improvements in stock management and order processing, which made the workshop run more efficiently and boosted customer satisfaction by speeding up service delivery.
Read the full story here.
How WorkGuru Stands Out
While many systems track either time and purchasing or stock and purchasing, WorkGuru is unique because it integrates all three. This means you can manage your entire job management process—from stock control to time tracking—in one seamless system.
WorkGuru also includes
purchasing automation tools, which let you buy stock based on your current levels or future forecasts. This helps you avoid over-purchasing and reduces the risk of stock sitting unused on the shelf, tying up your capital.
Conclusion: Why Integrated Stock Control Matters
Integrating stock control with job management isn’t just about tracking materials—it’s key to keeping your projects accurate and efficient. With WorkGuru, you can keep an eye on your stock in real time, cut down on extra costs, and ensure your inventory meets your project needs.
This means better control, fewer delays, and smoother workflows for fabricators. WorkGuru gives you the tools to keep every project on track and within budget.
Do you want to see how WorkGuru can help you better manage your stock and projects?
Get your demo today and start improving your operations. We’re here to help you succeed.
