News

JobSite Resources of Westerville, Ohio is pleased to announce that it recently delivered the first Mobile Research Facility to the Center for Algal Engineering Research and Commercialization, located at OHIO UNIVERSITY in Athens, Ohio. This Mobile Research Facility has been under development since early this year and will allow the Center to conduct laboratory testing in the field. Jesus Pagan, project director for the Center noted that “this mobile unit will allow us to expand our ability to do real-time field analysis as opposed to the current method of collecting samples in the field and sending them back to the lab for evaluation.” Mark Hall, President of JobSite Resources, noted that “we have enjoyed working on this program and being able to provide a versatile and flexible configuration for use in the field. Early on, one of the primary objectives was to have a module that was flexible enough to accommodate a variety of test instruments and capabilities.”

The Center for Algal Engineering Research and Commercialization was funded through the Ohio Third Frontier Wright Projects. This Center was established to help facilitate the growth and development of a rather extensive amount of effort underway within the State of Ohio in pursuit of the development of algae based technologies. Efforts within Ohio are underway to develop the use of algae as a source of nutritional and specialty chemicals, as well as a potential fuel source and more recently in the use of algae as a source of bioremediation technology. Dr. David Bayless, Director, notes “the algae industry within Ohio is larger than we initially realized. It was apparent to us early in the program that we needed to be able to provide the ability for field evaluation of products and processes. This mobile laboratory capability is a tremendous asset to our overall program and we look forward to its use in future programs.”

In addition to JobSite Resources, Yamaha Generators also participated by providing the Portable Electric Yamaha EF6300iSDE 6300 Watt Inverter Generator. Mr. Pagan noted that as use of this Mobile Research Facility grows, it is anticipated that additional units, as well as modifications of the basic design and concept, will result.

 The rules and regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and visits from an OSHA inspector, are part of the everyday working environment for commercial and general contractors. Most employers in the industry have a fundamental commitment to maintaining a safe workplace, and most know by now the actions to avoid that otherwise will cause safety problems or raise an OSHA red flag. It’s good business and common sense to have a systematic safety approach that documents all safety efforts—efforts that should include establishing and enforcing safety and health requirements, new hire and periodic safety training, full documentation of safety efforts, attention to injury and illness record keeping requirements, and prompt response to all safety audit recommendations.

Contractors that have been aware of all of this and already have safety systems and plans in place to deal with OSHA inspections may think they are in good shape to avoid problems with OSHA. But it’s time to think again and to revisit existing systems and plans. There is a new OSHA with a new message: “There is a new Sheriff in town.” Sheriffs aggressively enforce the law. That is exactly what OSHA intends to do in the Obama Administration.

 Mettler Toledo: Inventory Control Solutions

Being in the business of asset management solutions, JobSite Resources took a closer look at their current solutions and decided they wanted to incorporate bin scale technology as one of their inventory control hardware solutions. Specifically, they were looking for a technology to use in addition to RFID to manage consumable inventory. This triggered them to call WinWare and ultimately get METTLER TOLEDO involved. JobSite Resources was seeking a cost-effective solution to monitor this type of inventory without having to spend the time or money attaching RFID tags to every single consumable unit in their customers' inventories.

In 2009, JobSite Resources installed METTLER TOLEDO shelf scales into their industrial grade, Portable Asset Dispensing Device, coined the P.A.D.D. The shelf scales were mounted on to the P.A.D.D.'s closed steel shelving units, and plastic bins were affixed to the scales. Each bin was then filled with a consumable item like batteries or gloves. Powered by WinWare's CribMaster inventory management software, JobSite Resources could use the item's unit weight to count the number of items in the bin and monitor when and how many items had been removed. This allowed them to detect, record, and replenish the consumable inventory being removed from the P.A.D.D. The shelf scale enabled JobSite Resources to offer another robust, mobile inventory control hardware solution to their customers.

The inventory control solutions that JobSite Resources developed have provided a multitude of benefits to their customers. Their Portable Asset Dispensing Device, powered by CribMaster software, provides management with detailed inventory usage data by employee, the ability to set automated item reorder points, and furnishes reports with detailed job costs by work order, department, project, etc.

Management also has access to comprehensive financial and operational information that can be utilized to reduce inventory related costs, monitor productivity, and establish accountability.

The security features of the P.A.D.D. allow management to set employee permission levels, monitor access, and even view activity via the video surveillance system. This creates a secured point of entry to inventory on a continual 24-hour basis. Also, employee productivity can be increased by strategically staging the device in close proximity to work areas which reduces employee downtime and costs incurred traveling to and from a central store room.

Overall, the P.A.D.D. is a huge cost saver to the companies that use them. P.A.D.D.'s secured, electronic gate and video surveillance system reduces loss and over consumption. In addition, the P.A.D.D. lowers overstocks, stock outs, and reduces downtime.

JobSite Resources partnership with METTLER TOLEDO and WinWare has enabled them to develop and deliver an innovative product that truly solves its customers' consumable inventory control needs.

For more information visit www.mt.com

METTLER TOLEDO
Walt Vukmanic
Strategic Accounts Manager
1900 Polaris Parkway
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 438-4771
walt.vukmanic@mt.com

An industrial grade, secured point of use dispensing device that delivers inventory control, maximizes productivity and yields operational efficiencies.

The P.A.D.D. utilizes highly accurate bin scale technology and inventory software to immediately count and record inventory levels when an item transaction occurs.

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