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Crews and Assemblies can easily be created directly from items in the Bid Item Detail window. Saving these items as a unit allows them to be used in future jobs without having to create the item detail from scratch each time.
If you have already created a job with detail items that you want to save as a Crew or Assembly, activate that job for use here. If you need assistance in creating your job bid items, see the Fast Trax instructions, ‘Easy Steps for Creating Bid Items’. Once you have entered your bid items, return here for instructions on creating Crews and Assemblies from their detail.
Creating a Crew
A Crew is a group of laborers, equipment, trucking, and other items that can be loaded into a job as a single unit.
Locate the Bid Item Detail to save as a Crew
Go to: Job menu > Bid Items
Select a bid item from the navigation tree on the window’s left side. Expand the tree to the item’s Detail level so that the detail items are being displayed on the right side of the window. You will use these items to create your crew.
Using the Crew Wizard
Go to: Actions menu > Create Crew
The Crew Wizard is now forward on your screen. You will use this tool to create the crew from the detail in the bid item you selected.
In the first window you will designate the group this crew will belong to and give it a unique Code and Description. Start by clicking search next to the Group code field to choose a code from the Select Crew Group window. Next, enter a unique crew Code, and a Description. Now, enter the Production/day amount this crew can attain based on the hours displayed, and then enter a UM (unit of measure). You can also tie an Assembly to the crew and when the crew is loaded into a future job, the assembly will also load into the detail.
Click Next, and the window shown on the left will open. This window lists the items that will make up your new crew. The window displays the items in the order that they appear in the bid items window, but can use the insert, change, delete, and sort buttons to arrange them the way you want.
Note: Changing the items here will not affect the existing detail in the Bid Items window.
When your work in this window is completed, click Finish. The crew you just created will be saved to the Crew Table. If you want to review your new crew, go to the Tables menu and click Crews. Your crew will be displayed in that window listed under the group in which you placed it.
Creating an Assembly
Assemblies are a group of materials, trucking, and other items that can be loaded into a job as a single unit.
Locate the Bid Item Detail to save as an Assembly
In the left panel of the Bid Items window, find a bid item you want to use and then open the tree to the Detail level. Then, click in the Detail panel.
In our example, we will click on the Material sub item, which holds the detail we want for our residential water service assembly.
Relating the existing quantities to a single unit
Go to: Actions menu > Create Assembly
When you save an assembly, you want to save the components that make up only one assembly. In this way, when you pull the assembly into a future job, the system will multiply it by whatever number of assemblies is needed in that job.
In this window, you will enter the number of assemblies the current Bid Item Detail represents. The system will then divide the detail item quantities by that number to come up with the item quantities needed to make just one assembly.
Notice that the system will automatically default to the quantity currently entered in the Detail window. If this is correct, click OK. If not, change the quantity to the correct number and click OK. The Assembly Wizard will open.
Using the Assembly Wizard
Enter the Group and Sub group to which the new assembly will be added. Next, enter its unique Code and a Description.
If you want to link a specific work crew to this assembly, click search in the Crew field and choose one from the Select Crew window. Then, whenever you select this specific assembly in future jobs, the crew linked to it will also be added into the Bid Item Detail. Click Next.
This next window displays the items belonging to your new assembly. These items were taken directly from the Detail window and the quantities for each item reflect the number needed to make one assembly.
The window displays the items in the order that they appear in the bid items window, but can use the insert, change, delete, and sort buttons to arrange them the way you want.
Note: Changing the items here will not affect the existing detail in the Bid Items window.
Click Finish to save your new assembly to the Assembly table.
Assembly components are limited to Materials, Outside Trucking and Other items. Crews, however, also can include Outside Trucking and Other items (in addition to laborers and equipment). Since Other and Outside Trucking items can appear in both detail windows, there is a chance for duplication of these items in your bid. Make sure you are not duplicating these items when you edit the assembly and crew detail.
The crew and assembly you just created can now be selected for use in future jobs.
Hot Crews and Assemblies
Your nine most often used crews and/or assemblies can also be added to the ‘Hot Crews/Assemblies’ list which allows you to quickly select and enter these crews and assemblies into the job Detail.
For more information on the Hot Crews and Assemblies list, press F1 while in Estimator to bring up Help. Click on the Index tab at the top left of the window and enter “Crews” in the search field. Double click on the Hot Crews/Assemblies subject under the Crews heading.
Conclusion
Getting started with SharpeSoft is a breeze. Whether you are looking to create a new job or add one, SharpeSoft has got your back. We have the tools and expertise necessary to help you make it happen without breaking a sweat.
You can continue on to other helpful Fast Trax articles below. To learn more about this particular subject, consult your system Help manual, or just give us a call and we’ll be glad to walk you through it.