Jewellers Manufacturing Process

Bit of a business question...

In an environment where a Jeweler employs a few people, lets say 5 or 10,
and these people are assembling various pieces, how does "the boss" keep
control of stock? Obviously these are precious metals, and there will no
doubt be issues of keeping track of stock.

Are pieces (be they gold sheet, wire, or diamonds) handed out on a per job
basis, or does one just point the craftsmen to the safe and say help
yourself?

"Michael" wrote in message
...
Bit of a business question...

In an environment where a Jeweler employs a few people, lets say 5 or 10,
and these people are assembling various pieces, how does "the boss" keep
control of stock? Obviously these are precious metals, and there will no
doubt be issues of keeping track of stock.

Are pieces (be they gold sheet, wire, or diamonds) handed out on a per job
basis, or does one just point the craftsmen to the safe and say help
yourself?

I imagine it depends on the job.

Unless you're making big trophies sterling silver isn't expensive enough to
take serious notice of. It's not really worth reasonably well paid and
skilled people stealing it in less than kilograms amounts.

Gold and platinum are different.

I'd issue it by weight and compare the weight of the finished piece plus any
lemmel.

Any discrepancies over a few grams would be a cause for concern.

The days of workshops burning old overalls and carpets (and the floorboards
every twenty five years) and having metal traps in the sinks are gone.
These days labour is the big expense.

Stones are always tracked by number by everyone, including 'one man
operations' like mine.

--
William Black

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe
Barbeques on fire by chalets past the headland
I've watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off Newborough
All this will pass like ice-cream on the beach
Time for tea

On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 15:21:51 GMT, in rec.crafts.jewelry "Michael"
wrote:

Bit of a business question...

In an environment where a Jeweler employs a few people, lets say 5 or 10,
and these people are assembling various pieces, how does "the boss" keep
control of stock? Obviously these are precious metals, and there will no
doubt be issues of keeping track of stock.

Are pieces (be they gold sheet, wire, or diamonds) handed out on a per job
basis, or does one just point the craftsmen to the safe and say help
yourself?




When I worked in a jewelry factory in Germany in the 70's, the work was
weighed by the foreman as it was handed out, and everything including
the filings was handed back in at the end of the day and weighed again.

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com