Tracking Prefab Materials - a BIG problem, an EASY fix.
- Nicholas Dimitruk
- Oct 17, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 4
BitRip® and our Smart Tracking Labels delivered a delivery tracking system far superior to barcodes, saving immense time at the warehouse, fabrication facility, and on jobsites.
One of San Antonio’s oldest and largest electrical contractors, Nathan Alterman Electric Co., Ltd. commenced operations in 1923 when Nathan Alterman purchased an existing company at the age of 24. Now known as “Alterman” and employee-owned with over 1,100 employees, the company has a half dozen locations throughout Texas and one in New Mexico. A century in the electrical contracting business doesn’t just happen, it is predicated on quality workmanship completed by experienced and dedicated employees.
One of the leading electrical contractors in Texas, Alterman is known for top-quality installations that provide its clients with lasting results that minimize life cycle costs – completed on time and on budget. In addition to electrical construction and pre-construction management, the company also designs and installs voice and data communications systems, video cabling, access controls, security, and surveillance systems, and provides electrical service, preventive maintenance, and 24- hour emergency service.
Across all departments, the company is committed to innovation and best practices, and like most leading commercial electrical contractors today, is committed to prefabricating items in a controlled space then getting them to jobsites for plug-and play installation. Alterman’s prefabrication and preconstruction engineering group, which is tasked with improving quality and meeting rigid design and installation standards and timelines, features a state-of-the-art 11,000-sqft facility and resolute staff.
As Alterman’s Prefab/Material Handler Mike Daffin is a key part of that team. Daffin submits purchase orders for prefabricated material and is responsible for receiving material as it is delivered. On an average day, Alterman and his team handle hundreds of items. All these components need to be accounted for, quality-control checked, stocked and then, of course, deployed for prefabrication and eventual installation.
LOST ITEMS = LOST PROFIT
Alterman delivers between 10-30 different items to various jobsites throughout San Antonio and surrounding areas every day. Daffin and his colleagues constantly strive for the most efficient means of meeting all these material handling and delivery challenges and finding lost items is a top priority. Until recently there didn’t seem to be an obvious solution to this challenge. “We were looking for a way of tracking all our material and deliveries. Losing track of items leads to delays in completing projects, which ultimately leads to loss of time,” Daffin explained. And, of course, time IS money.
A couple of years ago Daffin discovered a digital and physical solution that has immensely improved their process. He found BitRip®, a free app that seamlessly tracks any type of physical asset using preprinted, scannable tags called BRCode. Alterman’s material and prefab experts were quickly intrigued by this unique combination of what might be best described as “a QR code on steroids,” and they put it through a vigorous vetting process.
BitRip easily integrates with Alterman’s existing software workflows, and each code stores massive amounts of data and tracks every scanned location, unlocking field-level visibility. “BitRip has helped us with the scheduling side of logistics and allows us to improve our delivery process overall,” Daffin said.
The app and labels were conceived in field combat operations by retired U.S. Marine, Nick Dimitruk, who cofounded the app’s parent company, Nastro Technologies, with Catherine Chapman. “We were in dirty, rapidly changing, dangerous places and using expensive, mission-critical gear. We realized that people in other industries had the same headaches, stress, and urgency to get the mission done quickly and effectively, so we invented this technology,” Dimitruk said.
DIRTY STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENTS
The Alterman prefab floor isn’t dirty, but it is rapidly changing and includes lots of very expensive machinery. Jobsites where Alterman works could be considered dangerous and dirty. And a project manager who can’t find crucial materials is undoubtedly stressed.
“BitRip has provided us with a simple, yet smart way of keeping track of the: ‘what, where, when, how, and who’ of the logistics side of manufacturing and prefabrication. We’re able track items from point A to point B as well as provide those in the field with photos of what exactly they have headed their way and the condition of those deliveries,” Daffin said. He added that the ability to upload and store photos in a “Bit,” or unique digital file, attached to each BR Code has revolutionized their process. Daffin said that attaching a time or dollar savings delivered by BitRip isdifficult, but that the “photographic trail” it provides does deliver bottom line value.
“Since the implementation of BitRip, if an item can’t be found or gets damaged in transit or while being loaded or offloaded, the photos we upload with BitRip have saved us time by allowing us to track the item through with the labels and photos,” he explained.
SUPER SIMPLE AND DURABLE
Getting started with BitRip was extremely easy, he said, citing the app’s simplicity. “We were able to show our drivers how to use the app to help them make their deliveries and change the status of the deliveries as they made them in real time,” Daffin said.
Daffin has found the BR Code labels to be extremely durable and tear-resistant and he said they stick on well on such items as electrical metallic tubing, racks, plastic bins, plywood, and other materials. “The labels scan easily, and we haven’t had any issues with fading in the sun or trouble scanning in the rain,” he added. Daffin said BitRip allows his team to maintain tracking and logistical advantages and that it truly increases Alterman’s time management efficiency. “I would definitely recommend BitRip to colleagues, or anyone".
Interested in learning more about BitRip savings with material tracking?
Comments