Buying used equipment for your business can sometimes be a bit tricky. While you may be looking to get the best overall price, you also have to ensure that the equipment you purchase is in good working order and is worth the cost. If you are looking at forklifts for sale for instance, you need to be certain that you are getting a quality forklift and that it is actually worth what you are paying. There are a few things to look for anytime you purchase used equipment.
First of all, check all of the fluids like the transmission and hydraulic fluids and the engine oil, coolant and any other fluids. You want to know that the machine is in good working order and that it has been well maintained over the years. If the fluid levels are low, this could be a sign of a machine that has not been taken care of properly.
Find out about past maintenance. There should be maintenance records and you should have a look at these to ensure that the previous owner has taken good care of the equipment. Find out how often repairs have been needed over the life of the machine, how often the fluids have been changed and anything else that will tell you that this could be a bad purchase.
Next, find out how many hours the equipment has been operated. Operating hours are not the only consideration when buying used equipment but it is certainly important that you find out how many hours it has been used. Hours in machinery are similar to miles in a car. You have to know how worn out the equipment is before you buy it. The effect of the hours however depends on the type of equipment. For instance, machines that have diesel engines can operate for tens of thousands of hours without problem. If you feel that the operating hours are a bit high, it may be a good idea to continue your shopping and find something with a few less hours on it. Note that even when you are considering operating hours, maintenance schedules are important. A piece of equipment that has been used only 1,000 hours but was not well maintained may actually not be worth as much as one that has seen regular maintenance and has more than 10,000 hours of operation.
Finally, look for signs that the machine has been worked a lot. Signs of wear are going to be evident in any used equipment but there are some signs that are worse than others. Cracks and rust should always throw up a red flag. Keep in mind that even if you get it for a good price, a piece of machinery that is going to need constant repairs will cost you more in the long run.
Take your time when shopping and ensure that you are getting equipment that will do what it is intended to do and that you get it for a relatively good price.
With so much new and evolving technology out there, it seems everyone on the job site has a new gadget that helps them stay connected. While the new smart phone or tablet makes keeping in touch easier, it can also mean new issues on the job for HR to tackle. Staying up to date on the possible issues tied to current technology is half the battle for a good HR team.
Both employees and employers now have access to one another in real time as they have never before. While a smart phone may seem like a great gadget for your boss to give you, it can also come with strings attached. For example, many come with GPS based uses that can give your company the minute by minute location of every employee. Other technology forms of spying on employees can come in the form of the web cams many laptops now come with.
For the average worker and boss these tools might not come into play, but in some cases it can turn into a big issue and having a policy in place dealing with tracking and the likes can set the tone for appropriate computer use. With emerging technology it can get confusing as to what is within the law and what is not so it is also always good for the HR professional to keep current on both their technology and education like many who pursue a Masters in HR.
Beyond the newest gadget on the market, another hot topic related to technology in the workplace is the ownership of intellectual property (IP), copyrights and even patents. In some workplaces an employee is required to sign a document that gives their employer ownership to IP while others do not. While it makes sense for someone working for a software designer to not be able to produce their own software products for market, the issue of who owns the IP is also slowly creeping into other markets.
One market that is currently getting a lot of attention in this regard is education as many teachers are using technology to sell their lesson plans and materials used in class. The current debate is tied to who owns their creations if they were produced on school time, using school resources and how this use of computers falls into their work contracts. This emerging issue is another place where having a deep understanding of both contracts and employment laws can be helpful. In order to stay on top of the change in technology and the issues it brings within, you can hardly go wrong with completing a Masters in HR.
Over the past few years, steel has gained mass popularity as a building material. It offers a number of advantages over other materials including strength, durability, sustainability and affordability. Steel storage buildings are one of the most popular options available today and these buildings come in a wide range of designs, types and sizes. Whether you need to store an airplane or you just need a small workshop, steel offers many benefits.
Steel does not burn so unlike wood, you have no worries of your building going up in flames. It will not feed into a fire and does not gather toxic chemicals from a fire like other materials can do. Termites are no match for this material and rats and other rodents will not be able to chew their way through like they would with wood. Steel is more affordable partly because it is 100 percent recyclable so unlike brick, concrete and wood, steel is a very affordable option for storage building needs.
One of the main advantages of steel over other products is its durability and strength. It can withstand even the harshest of weather related conditions so wind, rain and snow are not likely to cause an issue. Steel buildings are easier and cheaper to maintain than others and they can be completely customized to meet your specific needs. If you need insulation and interior walls, they can be added easily and steel buildings are considered temporary for the most part so you can easily move them whenever needed.
If you want a storage building option that is affordable, durable and offers a number of other benefits, steel is the perfect choice. You will find that there are options available for virtually every conceivable need and a number of steel building manufacturers from which you can purchase.
Anyone who has been involved with the home security business or has looked for ways in which to improve the protection for their home will have come across Vivint at one time or another. The Utah based company has been making a name for itself in recent years with the expansion of the business as well as their success in this market. However what we want to talk about here is the myth that Vivint are actually running a scam and ripping people off.
The Vivint BBB has been in the news however how accurate is it to say that the company is conducting a scam? Well if we look at the evidence when it comes to Vivint then it is clear that they have nothing to worry about as a company and you have nothing to worry about as an existing client or a potential customer. Indeed, the vast majority of the company’s 600,000 strong customers would give them a positive review for their products and their service. The fact that they recently won SDM Magazine’s Dealer of the Year for 2011 as well as having their products rated as Consumer Digest’s Best Buy for 2011 should be enough to tell you that they are rated very highly both within the industry and outside of it as well.
However the company has also been expanding too and they have just received $75m worth of funding to create Vivint Solar as an offshoot of their security and home automation company that will bring solar panels and therefore alternative and cheaper energy to many homes. If a company the size of Vivint was carrying out a scam then it would be headline news but the fact is that these accusations are confined to a few interest articles and have no real substance or evidence to back them up.