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Debusguy
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
 Posted - 03/21/2002 : 05:19:50 AM
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Is there a kindred soul out there that has to ride herd on garage expenses? Our outlay for General Supplies has gone over budget for three straight years, despite a bond issue that replaced 11 (of 39)older buses in a two-year period. Does anyone have guidelines in place for inventory control of garage supplies? I know this is a deadly dull issue, but it's one more facet to the job of staying fiscally healthy, which school boards want to see.
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2002 : 05:56:07 AM
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Garage supplies, by definition, are expendable consumables used in the day to day maintainance of your fleet. We do not inventory such items, but use a common sense approach for this stuff. The time used to count these items would probably cost more than the items used. Nuts, bolts, washers, "o" rings, hose clamps, miniature bulbs and various sprays and gasket sealer are issued to each mechanic as needed. They are not stored where anyone can take what they need without scrutiny. Clearly, if you have a person that needs a fresh can of spray lube, for instance, with nearly every repair job, you might want to take issue with his work habits. Taking the time to inventory such items is not cost effective, in my opinion. Make sure your staff has what they need, and have your shop foreman or lead man ensure that supplies aren't used to excess. If you simply MUST account for it, try using a percentage of the repair parts or labor charges. IE: If you use $100. in chargeable parts, add 8% or 10% for supplies to help cover expenses for parts washers, rags, and previously mentioned consumables.
We inventory parts and some consumables such as freon, antifreeze, oil and grease, etc. Inventory, to me, means something that you count and keep track of throughout the year. Tires, hard parts, rebuilt components, gallons of paint that the body shop uses (not spray cans), seat covers and material, glass, etc. etc. Hope this helps.
Joe
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cowlitzcoach
Advanced Member
USA
325 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2002 : 06:44:51 AM
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As Wagonmaster has pointed out, riding herd on consummables is important. Stuff can walk out of the back door faster than you can ship it into the front door if you don't have some sort of inventory control. In most instances it is more a matter of supervision than anything else.
If your high cost is not in consummables the only thing I can think of is your expectations for expenses is too low. Most times you should be seeing each of your buses once a month at a minimum. It is going to cost you a certain amount to see each bus each time.
If you are seeing your buses more often due to repairs and not PM then you need to determine which buses are coming in and why they are coming in.
Until you determine where your costs are being incurred you really can't determine what is causing your perceived high costs.
Good luck.
Mark O.
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Monitoring Transportation Expenses
