“It begins with a warehouse design. I recommend a system that allows areas, rows or shelfs, and sections. Think about a grocery store and looking at the signs that help you find the SOUPS, CEREAL, ETC. All the shelves are labeled and sectioned. All the mustard is together and then organized by brand. This is establishing a designated location, allows people to find things with ease, and allows those shelves and sections to be properly restocked. Similar concepts can be applied to the warehouse and vehicle design in a restoration company. Once you have a design and designated locations, using a digital tracking system, like the one built into iRestore, helps manage and track the movements and the exact location of the entire inventory. The design and designated location concept is a key ingredient both for effectively employing a digital tracking system and getting equipment back where it belongs. An added benefit is that it gives you a visual reconciliation tool; for example, if the air mover section is empty, you can see that the inventory level is problematic and react accordingly. Preventing equipment from walking off the shelves starts with the cliché, ‘A place for everything and everything in its place.’ Strong operational systems and using a digital tracking system for efficiency can help manage the inventory with ease.” – Lisa Lavender, COO of RTI and iRestore