The number on the equipment is a different job from the asset code the operator sticks on: the asset code tracks the unit in your fleet, the serial number describes the product itself. Keep them in separate fields and link the two.
| Question | Which date answers it |
|---|---|
| When does warranty start | The date written in the contract, usually delivery |
| How old are the gasket and body | Build year |
| Which version does a spare part fit | Build year and serial number |
| When did depreciation start | Date entered into assets |
Wash lines, sunlight and disinfectant make the plate illegible over time. On delivery day, photograph the serial number of every box and enter one line per box with serial number, build year, delivery date, location and asset code; it serves a service call, an insurance file and a stock count at once, and doing it later takes hours. If the build year is not visible on the plate, ask Aris Makina with the serial number.
On resale, a container of known age holds up better in a negotiation, because the buyer does not have to guess its age.
