Reducing labor costs and managing time are essential to efficient inventory management. Counting a stock of small parts is not only time consuming, it’s also prone to human error. So when you want to inventory these small items quickly and accurately, nothing is more helpful than a counting scale.
These devices weigh a sample size of parts and divide it by the number of individual pieces in the sample. The sample is then used to calculate the number of parts in the entire batch.
The sampling process is the task most prone to inaccuracies and not all scale manufacturers get it right. An Arlyn Scale is guaranteed to give you an accurate count each and every time.
Arlyn Series 820 Parts Counting Scales
The 820 has two simple and reliable ways to calculate sample weights. The only thing you have to do is accurately count the pieces in the initial sample. The scale will do the rest!
Tip: The more pieces you use, the more accurate your sample, and therefore, your overall count will be accurate.
Quick Count
The Quick Sample feature allows you to quickly choose a standard sample size — either 10, 25, 50 or 100 pieces — from the digital indicator. You simply count that number of pieces and place them on the scale platform. The scale will create a sample and automatically switch to counting mode where you can count your inventory.
This is the feature to use when you need an immediate tally since it’s extremely fast. The only downside is that you won’t be able to save the data in the scale’s memory. This means you’ll have to retake the sample any time you want to count that piece in the future.
Sample Definition
When you know you’re going to want to recount inventory of a particular part in the future, this is the feature to use because you can store the part name or number and sample weight in the scale’s memory and recall it any time you need it. This allows you to bypass the hand-count in the sampling process and get your inventory taken much faster.
The scale’s PARTS COUNTING menu gives you four options: add, edit, delete or activate a sample. Here’s a brief overview of how each works:
- Add a New Sample: Scroll to NEW on the menu and press enter. You’ll be given a 4-digit default sample name. This number is determined by the number of samples already stored in the scale’s memory.
- Edit an Existing Sample: This option allows you to edit the name, description and/or weight value of a sample. New weight values can be added manually or automatically using the scale platform.
- Delete an Obsolete Sample: If you’ll no longer stock a part or are worried you made an error, you can easily remove the entry.
- Use a Stored Sample: When you’ve already sampled a part and need a new count, use this feature to find the stored data you need. Choose the sample you want, click the ACTV function, press enter and start weighing.
Too Many Parts to Fit on the Platform At Once?
No problem! Our counting scales are equipped with an Accumulate function that allows you keep a running count of parts stored in different containers.
Simply choose the sample weight you want to use or create a new sample and press the ACCUM key. The scale will aggregate the weight of each batch until you press and hold the ACCUM key to signal that you’re finished counting that part. You’ll exit this function and see the total number of pieces displayed on the scale’s indicator.
Counting Very Lightweight Parts? You May Need a Higher Precision Scale
In this hypothetical situation, you have 100 lb. capacity counting scale with a resolution of 0.02 lb. Your sample size is 10 pieces and the weight of each piece is 0.06461 lb.
Ideally, the scale would show your sample weight as 0.6461 lb. Yet a scale can only ever read to its best resolution, which is 0.02 lb. This means your display would actually read 0.65 lb.
That’s an error of 2.5%, which will have a pretty significant impact on your total count.
Counting Lightweight Parts With an Arlyn Ultra Precision Counting Scale
If you had our SAW-C counting scale, you’d get the same 100 lb. capacity, but you’d also have a much finer resolution of 0.001 lb.
Using the same piece weight and sample size as the previous example, you’d still have an ideal sample weight of 0.6461. Yet your scale would be able to read to 0.646 lb., which reduces the error to a mere 0.03%. That type of error won’t affect the accuracy of your count at all.
No Other Company Offers SAW Technology
Arlyn Ultra Precision Scales are powered by our internationally patented Surface Acoustic Wave technology, which offers the same or better accuracy than a force motor scale. The only difference is that it costs about two-thirds less and isn’t prone to the errors that temperature changes, air currents and mechanical vibrations can create.
Custom Inventory Solutions
Sometimes the quantity of small parts you stock will make even this type of parts counting inefficient. In these cases, Arlyn Scales can work with you to create a system that tracks your entire inventory in real time.
Let’s say you store all of your small parts in bins on a shelving units. We can integrate multiple counting scalesinto this design so that the bins for each part rest on a scale.
Each scale could be connected to your data management system through a WiFi connection. A target weight would be set for each scale and when the weight fell below that number, the system would send an automated email message alerting a member of your team that more parts need to be ordered.
Factory Direct Service
When you work with Arlyn Scales, you’re working directly with the factory, which means there are no middlemen driving up costs. And since we ship directly from our Long Island, NY factory, we offer faster and less expensive shipping options.
Any time you have questions, you’ll speak with a team member who actually understands how our products work and what they’ll accomplish for you. If you’re not sure what kind of scale you need, get in touch with us today.
