We update the resource collateral on the TimeControl.com website that it would be impractical to create notices for each thing that gets added or updated. In the Resources area, you’ll find Webcasts, White Papers, Slide presentations, Factsheets, Online training and more. We did just update the TimeControl Industrial overview webcast which can be found on the Webcast page. If you’d like to get to it directly, you can find it at: TimeControl Industrial Overview.
Tag Archives: TimeControl Industrial
TimeControl Industrial Extended Rates resolves numerous business costing situations
Extended Rates in TimeControl Industrial and TimeControl Industrial Online are designed for many different business challenges including hazard premiums, extra pay for different shifts, variance between regular, overtime and double-time and so much more.
TimeControl’s rate structure is so extensive that we can’t cover it all here. In fact, there are several resources worth looking for on the website including the white paper “Creating your Rate structure” on the White Paper page at: TimeControl.com/resources/whitepapers.
For today’s conversation, let’s look at just one powerful aspect of the TimeControl Rate architecture, the Extended Rates functionality of TimeControl Industrial and TimeControl Industrial Online.
Extended Rates works a bit differently than a normal rate table. In the case of Extended Rates, TimeControl will try to match fields that have been filled out on the Crew Timesheet or regular timesheet with fields that are in the Extended Rates table. Imagine for a moment that you have different rates for different projects and different rates within each project for different roles. Then imagine that there are premiums for working on the day shift vs. the night shift and additional premiums based on location and the weather conditions for outdoor work.
Whew! That’s a lot to take into account. Let’s add some complexity to the challenge in saying that some of these premiums affect what we charge the client. Some don’t. Some of these premiums affect what we pay the employee. Some don’t.
TimeControl Extended Rates is ready to handle all those challenges.
Once you’ve designed your extended rates structure, setting it up is quite straightforward. On the System Preferences page, in the TCi Settings tab, you map the timesheet field name to the Extended Labor Rates field name so that TimeControl knows how to find the right record.
Then in the Extended Rates table, you set up what might be a very long list of field combinations and their associated value. These tables are often set up externally using something like Excel and then imported into TimeControl.
In the timesheet, user-defined fields are created to allow the entries for the values in question. The values can be validated against acceptable values or be tied to a drop-down list to avoid typos.
Here’s an example based on the fields we set above.
| Project | Rate | Role | Shift | Location | Conditions | Internal Cost |
External Price | Average Project |
| Polar | Regular | Engineer | Day | NYC | Dry | $40.00 | $65.00 | $50.00 |
| Polar | Overtime | Engineer | Day | NYC | Dry | $60.00 | $80.00 | $75.00 |
| Polar | Double | Engineer | Day | NYC | Dry | $80.00 | $80.00 | $75.00 |
| Polar | Regular | Engineer | Night | NYC | Dry | $50.00 | $75.00 | $60.00 |
| Polar | Overtime | Engineer | Day | NYC | Dry | $75.00 | $90.00 | $75.00 |
| Polar | Double | Engineer | Day | NYC | Dry | $100.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 |
| Polar | Regular | Engineer | Day | NYC | Storms | $50.00 | $65.00 | $50.00 |
| Polar | Overtime | Engineer | Day | NYC | Storms | $70.00 | $80.00 | $75.00 |
| Polar | Double | Engineer | Day | NYC | Dry | $100.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 |
| Polar | Regular | Engineer | Night | MIA | Storms | $60.00 | $75.00 | $60.00 |
| Polar | Overtime | Engineer | Day | MIA | Storms | $85.00 | $90.00 | $75.00 |
As you can see, there are premiums set up for all these different options and for each line there are 3 values for Internal Cost, External Price and Average Project cost. You can have up to 9 different values for each line. That’s a lot. Think of it as a 9-dimensional matrix of values per timesheet line.
We’re only showing a portion of what would be a very long list of possible answers.
As of TimeControl 8.2, you’ll be able to simplify the design of this table with the use of null-values. This allows you to leave a cell blank and TimeControl will assume that any value for that cell is then a match. For example, let’s say the list above is the same for all projects, not just the Polar project. In that case, leave the Project field blank and TimeControl will match the rest of the conditions without worry over the project being selected. This should make creating Extended Rates table a good deal easier in the future.
Matching up the extended rates to the timesheets doesn’t require any effort. On the timesheet, the employee or for a Crew, the supervisor, enters in the values for the entire crew or each person based on what’s the situation is. TimeControl takes care of the rest.
There is a similar structure for Materials as these too can have different values either for cost or for billing for different circumstances.
To find out more about rates, consulting the TimeControl Reference Guide or see the white paper “Creating your Rate structure” on the White Paper page at: TimeControl.com/resources/whitepapers.
Track Expense Reports, Freeform Notes along with hours in a TimeControl timesheet
We tend to talk a lot about timesheet entries and timesheet hours in 
TimeControl along with anything associated to them like project and billing values but there are many more options to data entry in the system.
Expense Reports
Associated to any timesheet line item, you can add an unlimited number of expense report items. Each expense report is linked to a resource code and allow for a value, currency type, two taxes and more. With each expense item, you can add an unlimited number of attachment files. These can be something like a scanned receipt in PDF format or almost anything else. The exact list of acceptable file types is managed by the Administrator. If you’re using the free TimeControl Mobile App, you could, for example, attach a photograph from the camera or photo library. This can mean you can easily associate a picture from the field to a given timesheet.
Freeform notes
You can add freeform notes either to the timesheet itself or to each line item. Because TimeControl supports having the same charge code multiple times, you could even have different notes for each day of a particular task. If you have optionally turned on the notes icon on the timesheet line, you will see it filled in if there are notes on that line. Entering these freeform notes is also supported in the free TimeControl Mobile App.
Project Progress
This has been part of TimeControl from the very start. You can enter the estimate to complete for each task or just mark it complete. In the activity tab you can also enter the task completion if there are multiple resources on the same task. Entering project progress is also supported in the free TimeControl Mobile App.
Material Consumption, Equipment Usage and Production Accomplished
If you are using TimeControl Industrial, the Material Entry screen allows you to enter several kinds of non-labor entries including the Material Consumed, the Usage of Equipment and even how much production was accomplished. These entries can be done with a timesheet creating a LEMS (Labor/Equipment/Materials) entry or they can be added in their own entry screen and approved separately. The free TimeControl Mobile App supports these features as well.
Find out more about Materials entry at: industrial.timecontrol.com/features/material-entry.
You can see a lesson in Expenses in the Online Lessons area:
TimeControl.com/resources/online-training/timecontrol-8.
Aegion Corp and HMS collaborate on a case study
We’re always delighted when clients let us know how TimeControl has made a difference. This month, we are able to share with you a case study of Aegion Corp. who has been a TimeControl Industrial client since 2014. HMS and Aegion collaborated on this case study for several weeks. It shows the results of interviews with several Aegion clients including the CIO, Thys Lourens. Aegion is a Missouri based pipeline services company.
Aegion selected TimeControl Industrial for its ability to enable field data collection and reports in this case study that by using TimeControl they have been able to improve overall productivity.
You can read the Press Release on this study or go directly to the Aegion Case Study to find out more about how TimeControl has helped Aegion improve their effectiveness. Here at HMS we’re proud to count them among our many clients.
Case Study: TimeControl.com/why-timecontrol/case-studies/aegion
The new TimeControl Mobile App includes Crew Timesheets!
In the lastest updated of TimeControl, enhancements to the free TimeControl Mobile App include new functionality for Crews. When the Mobile App links to a TimeControl Industrial license, additional functionality becomes available. Providing that the user has security profile access to these functions, they can now create, and edit a Crew Timesheet. In addition, the user can Approve or Reject Crew Timesheets as part of the approval process.
The Mobile App also allows the user to Add or Remove Crew Team Members.
Field Data Collection often occurs in areas where Internet services are spotty. If a connection is lost, the TimeControl Mobile App continues working offline until the Internet is restored and then synchronizes with the main TimeControl system.
The TimeControl Mobile App is available at no charge on the Google Play Store for Android phones and tablets and on the Apple App Store for iOS devices.
You can find out more about Crew Timesheets at: Industrial.Time
Control.com/features/crew-timesheet.
TimeControl Industrial 8 now available
With the successful launch of TimeControl 8 only a few days ago, we’ve now released TimeControl Industrial version 8. The TimeControl 8 version already included numerous features that will be of interest to all TimeControl Industrial clients.
There are also some features very specific to TimeControl Industrial in this edition. Some of these include:
Crew Timesheets in TimeControl Mobile
TimeControl 8 includes the free TimeControl Mobile App and TimeControl Industrial users can, for the first, time create and edit Crew Timesheets and edit Crew members while mobile. With nearly half of the total global workforce expected to be comprised of mobile employees by 2022, these new features in TimeControl Industrial Mobile will be welcome.
Manage Crews in TimeControl Mobile
Not only can supervisors and team leaders create crew timesheets while on the go, they can also use the TimeControl Mobile App to update team members. A team lead who is out in the field with their crew can start their shift by updating their crew and then updating Crew Timesheet information as the day progresses no matter where they are.
Support for TimeControl Mobile when disconnected from the Internet
TimeControl Mobile has been enhanced so that if connection to the Internet is interrupted; something that can occur more frequently in remote construction sites, the App will continue functioning and will automatically syncronize with the central application as soon as a connection is re-established.
Mobile Views
The TimeControl Mobile App includes dynamic data analysis for management of all timesheet data under their control. Instant graphics in numerous formats will enable rapid decision making based on where time is being spent.
The upgrade is available to existing on-premise clients with a current support and maintenance agreement at no additional charge from the TimeControl upgrades site at: Industrial.TimeControl.com/support/updates. TimeControl Industrial 8 will be upgraded automatically for TimeControl Online subscription clients in mid-July.
For further information, please visit Industrial.TimeControl.com or email info@hms.ca.
TimeControl 7.3 has been released with some big new features!
We’re very excited to release this latest update to TimeControl. TimeControl 7.3 comes with some significant new features and many enhancements. This version is available in TimeControl, TimeControl Industrial and shortly in TimeControl Online.
Here’s some of what to expect:
Do your expenses in the free TimeControl Mobile App
The TimeControl Mobile App is a free App designed to work on both Android and iOS (Apple) devices. This version of the TimeControl Mobile App allows you to add expense items to any line in your timesheet. Each timesheet line item allows you to add an unlimited number of expense items and each item is associated to both the charge item and a non-labor resource type. You can also attach multiple receipts as photos or files to each expense item. The TimeControl Mobile App is available at no cost on the Apple Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Use your camera to add attachments to timesheets or expenses
The TimeControl Mobile App now lets you attach multiple items to your timesheet. TimeControl lets you use your device to select photos, videos, to take a picture from your camera or even access files that are available to your device on Google Docs, Dropbox, iCloud or OneDrive.
Schedule reports to be created automatically and sent via
TimeControl reports can now be delivered by email on a schedule. Choose from sending an email on a schedule of your choice with a PDF attachment or just sending a direct link to an encrypted server-stored file.
And much, much more…
There is so much more. We’ve made huge improvements in filtering, added new auditing functionality and reporting for time-off banks, added single-sign-on support to the mobile app, added new dashboards and reports, added budget controls for the Charge and Project tables, enhanced the link to Microsoft Project Online and enhanced performance.
If you are a TimeControl Online subscriber, your systems will be updated over the next couple of weeks. If you are using TimeControl on-premise and have a current support contract, you can access this latest update at: TimeControl.com/support/updates.
For more information on TimeControl 7.3, go to TimeControl.com/features/latest.
Case Study: Hamon Deltak uses TimeControl Industrial to improve efficiency
We are delighted to have worked with our client Hamon Deltak on a case study highlighting how they have deployed TimeControl in their Minneapolis-based offices.
Hamon Deltak is an engineering firm that focuses on the energy industry. They do custom design, planning and manufacturing of power plant components with projects that can run anywhere from 8,000 to 20,000 hours of work. So making sure that those hours are properly accounted for is a key component of their business.
We collaborated with several of Hamon Deltak’s staff to get this story written and we are very excited with the results. You can read this story in its entirety at TimeControl.com/why-timecontrol/case-studies/hamondeltak.
To see a list of other case studies, visit: TimeControl.com/why-timecontrol/case-studies and to see some of our client testimonial letters, visit: TimeControl.com/why-timecontrol/testimonials
TimeControl Industrial 7.1 now available
On the heels of the release two days ago of TimeControl version 7.1 we’re delighted to announce the availability of TimeControl Industrial 7.1 . You can find out all about the amazing updates and changes of TimeControl 7.1 on yesterday’s blog post. All of the features mentioned in the release of TimeControl 7.1 are also available in TimeControl Industrial 7.1 so we’ll focus today on the significant changes in TimeControl Industrial in this version.
TimeControl Industrial’s last version was 6.9 so this is a major upgrade to the Industrial Edition that includes all of the changes in version 6.10 of TimeControl and the evolution in version 7 to the multi-browser, multi-device architecture. So this upgrade will be a signficiant one for TimeControl Industrial users.
Here are the new and enhanced features in TimeControl Industrial 7.1 that go beyond what was already in TimeControl 7.1:
TimeControl Industrial Crew Timesheets
TimeControl Industrial’s core is built around the Crew Timesheet. This addition to the classic TimeControl interface allows field data collection to amass high volumes of production values and enter them in a single interface. This version of TimeControl has a completely rewritten version of the TimeControl Crew Timesheet which is built in TimeControl’s multi-device, multi-browser architecture. There is no longer any ActiveX to be installed or anything else that is required on the browser. The Crew Timesheet now works with virtually any browser including Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Mozilla, and of course, Internet Explorer. There are other tools within the TimeControl Industrial Crew timesheet including the timesheet worksheet, materials entry and much, much more.
TimeControl Industrial Crew Timesheets Material Entry
Within the new TimeControl Industrial Crew Timesheet is a completely new Material Entry interface. This tab of the Crew Timesheet allows non-labor entries for Material consumed, Equipment used and Production accomplished. This area of the Crew Timesheet has been completely rewritten in version 7’s multi-browser, multi-device architecture. The Material Tab duplicates the functionality of the main Material Entry screens except that approvals for these non-labor entries will be part of this crew timesheet’s approvals. This will be particularly attractive to organizations who wish to do crew labor and non-labor approvals simultaneously through the same approval path.
TimeControl Industrial Material / Equipment /Production Entry
Aside from the tab on the TimeControl Industrial Crew Timesheet, TimeControl also has the main Material Entry module which has been rewritten in its entirety into the TimeControl 7 multi-device, multi-browser architecture. This module allows the field data collection of non-labor entries such as Material, Equipment and Accomplished Production to be entered separately from the crew timesheet and approved along its own approval path. This allows non-labor data collection and approvals to happen at times that don’t match the crew timesheet which is often the situation.
All TimeControl Industrial interface now in new Architecture
All remaining elements of the TimeControl Industrial interface have now been moved out of the old ActiveX controls and into the new TimeControl 7 multi-browser, multi-device architecture. This means that users are no longer tied to only using Windows and Internet Explorer devices but can now use Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Mozilla or other browsers on their preferred devices to perform all of the TimeControl Industrial functions. This includes Crew Management Crew Posting, Material Posting, Extended Rates management, Approvals and more.
And so much more…
Aside from these changes, there are also so many more that are now part of TimeControl Industrial from versions 6.10 and 7.0 TimeControl including: Sheduled Imports and Exports, Enhanced Reporting, Flexible Periods, the new Calendar View, the new GANTT view, Table Validation Rules, P6 Role support, Pay Periods, Windows Single Sign On and more. There are also many more changes under the covers including performance improvements for high capacity or high volume implementations, ergonomic improvements to many of the screens, and improvements to the table interface which makes it faster to perform most functions.
You can get it now!
TimeControl Industrial version 7.1 is available immediately. Find out more about the new features at Industrial.TimeControl.com/features/latest. Existing users with a current support contract can access the upgrade at no charge at Industrial.TimeControl.com/support/updates. For more information about your support status or to speak to HMS Technical services to request assistance with your upgrade, contact info@hms.ca.
Industrial users of TimeControlOnline users will be updated automatically in the coming weeks.
FAQ: Timesheets by Exception
Can TimeControl support timesheets entered only by exception? We have some operational staff who do the same thing all the time and are on salary so the only time we need their timesheet is when they need to book sick leave or vacation.
You can do timesheets by exception. But, more importantly, you can do timesheets by exception for some staff while doing positive-entry timesheets for everyone else. A positive-entry timesheet is one where an employee is expected to enter the timesheet with what they did with their time each day. An exception timesheet is one where the employee typically does the same task each day so tracking their day-to-day activities is not important. In their case, we’d like to default their timesheet to a standard week (for example: 40 hours of “in attendance”). Those employees would only have to make an entry for an “exception” such as vacation or sick leave or personal time off.
TimeControl includes a function called “Autofill” that automatically fills a timesheet for any employee in this category to the maximum per day required. If there are no entries for that person, a complete week is filled in. If there are some exception entries, only the gaps are filled in. In this manner we can accommodate both exception timesheet employees and positive-entry timesheet employees. More on this and other HR-related functions can be found at: http://www.timecontrol.com/use-cases/human-resources
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