How can I check the container or binned item once I have a tool in the system? What is the difference between the two?

Question: How can I check the container or binned item once I have a tool in the system?  What is the difference between the two?

Answer: You can’t change a Container or Bin status once a tool is Saved.

You can ONLY set the Container or Binned item check box when you CREATE the tool initially. Once a tool is created and SAVED, the container and binned item check boxes are not editable fields.

Essentially, a ‘container’ is something you put items in. Could be a semi-trailer, a pallet, a toolbox, a work van, a shipping container, a safety “kit” (or any type of “kit). You can then check a Container out to a Person or Location.

A ‘binned’ item is also considered a ‘quantity’ item. These are items that don’t warrant placing a barcode  on each item, as they aren’t really ‘unique’. So, you set up a “single” barcode to identify a group or quantity of tools. EX: 12″ claw hammers (25 in a bin , all identified by the same part number). 50’ electrical cables (again, a bin of 100 cables, all identified by the same barcode).

The 2nd choice under the ‘binned’ category is to determine if these items, when checked out, are supposed to be returned. This would make them “non-consumables’ (or, consumables ‘no’). These could be checked out, but would also be expected to be checked back in.

Or, perhaps they will be used up on a job, such as personal items as safety glasses, or gloves.  This would make them ‘consumables’ (or, consumables ‘yes’). Once check out, they would not be checked back in.

NOTE:  Container is only a field in TTS. It is not available in ATS.