Machinery and tools.
WHAT TO DECIDE
Own, hire or subcontract.
WHAT OWNING PROVIDES
Availability No hire charges
WHAT IT COSTS
Capital Maintenance Storage Idle time
WHY IDLE TIME MATTERS
Equipment used occasionally is expensive per hour used.
WHAT TO CALCULATE
Hours of use per year against the cost of ownership.
WHAT TO COMPARE
That against hire rates.
WHEN OWNING MAKES SENSE
High utilisation, and availability that matters.
WHAT HIRE PROVIDES
Capacity without capital.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT HIRE
Rates and the minimum period Who maintains it Who bears breakdown What happens if it is damaged or stolen Delivery and collection costs
WHY BREAKDOWN MATTERS
Hired equipment failing stops the site.
WHAT TO CHECK ON DELIVERY
Condition, recorded with photographs.
WHY
Damage disputes at return are common.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT SMALL TOOLS
Who holds them How they are issued How losses are handled
WHY
Tools disappear continuously and nobody accounts for it.
WHAT TO DO
Record them, issue against signature, and count.
WHAT TO MAINTAIN
Equipment, on schedule.
WHY
Failure on site costs the day, not only the repair.
WHAT TO TRACK
Equipment cost per job.
