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What is JAQ

JAQ is a software system for planning, tracking and costing the steps a workshop job may take from quotation to despatch. With JAQ any computer on your network can be used to …

• Access customer and supplier details, including contacts and history.
• Access quotes, jobs and sub job progress.
• Place purchase orders and book consumables.
• Despatch jobs and receive goods.
• Enter employee time sheets and hours booked to jobs.
• Access the equipment register, document register and maintenance schedules.
• Send messages between employees.
• And much more.

Who would use JAQ.

JAQ was designed for the workshop, or “Job Shop” environment. If you need to..

• Create, send and track quotes.
• Assign different job tasks to different employees and departments, and schedule the workflow.
• Track costs, purchases, consumables and hours against jobs.
• Despatch jobs and invoice.
• Record time sheets and employee hours.
• Keep track of your equipment maintenance, documents, employee licences, etc.

Then JAQ will help.

JAQ was designed to allow multiple employees to access the same records at the same time. By keeping all the records in one place, and making it easy to access, you maintain the integrity of the records. You won't have the problems associated with different records on different PC's. For example, you need to contact a supplier, but the contact details are on another computer, or a customer calls you asking how his job is going and if he can get a cost to date, but the employee responsible for that job is away on lunch. These are typical problems for a workshop, and JAQ addresses these.

 

Who is using JAQ

Meet some of our clients.

	30+ Employees Heavy fabrication and repair for the mining industry. Duncan Comelli Ph: 4998 5484		10+ Employees Waterjet and Plasma cutting, light metal fabrication. Justin Fraser Ph: 4955 5136
	60+ Employees Steel fabrication and solar power installations Oliver Sabu Ph: 4998 5123		10+ Employees Heavy fabrication and repair for the mining industry David Heuer Ph: 4955 0219
	10+ Employees Industrial and domestic refrigeration installation and repair. Leann M Hopkins-Corby Ph: 4951 3788		60+ Employees Machining for the mining and resources industry. Frank De Ponte Ph: 4952 6222

How does JAQ work.

JAQ uses a single server / multiple workstation format, meaning the JAQ software and database are on one PC ( the server ), and is accessed via one or more workstations. JAQ is basically an advanced web site, utilizing Javascript, ASP and a Access database. Using a web browser, you can access all of JAQ's functions, including the folders and files relating to the Quotes and Jobs for your customers. If you have any experience surfing the web, then you will find JAQ's interface easy to use.

No special software is needed to use JAQ, just the web browser that is installed on most computers by default, and there is no limit to the number of employees who can access JAQ at the same time.

You only need to install JAQ on a single PC, to act as the "Server". All other devices don't need any software installed, they use their default web browser to access JAQ.

JAQ does not need any special hardware either, any PC less than 10 years old will be more than adequate as a JAQ server.

Server requirements....

• Minimum of a PC no more than 10 years old, running Windows XP Pro or Windows Server 2000.
• Ideally a PC running Windows Server 2003 or later.

Client computer ( workstation ) requirements....

Any PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone. All JAQ requires is a web browser on the client, like IE, Firefox or Safari.

JAQ's file structure.

You may be familiar with shared network drives, where you can access drives on the server, eg H:/ or K:/ drives. JAQ uses these shared drives to store the customer Quotes and Jobs data. JAQ manages these folders for you, it creates new folders as needed, copies folders, and keeps the folder structure organised. JAQ uses...

• Supplier and Customer general info folder. e.g. S:/ drive. This is where JAQ keeps any general information files relating to the Supplier/Customer, e.g. latest price lists, certificates, QA documents.
• Quote Folder. e.g. Q: drive. JAQ creates a sub folder in the Q:/ drive for each customer. And when you add a new quote for the customer, JAQ also creates a sub folder, e.g. Q:/BOBSGARAGE/Q3201/. As JAQ creates the folders for you, you don't have to worry about creating them yourself, and you also know if someone else is working on a quote, they will be using the same folder structure, so its easy to find files from your own or someone else's quotes.
• Job Folder. e.g. J: drive. Same as the Quotes drive, JAQ will create and manage these for you.

You can configure JAQ to automatically create further sub folders under the job folder, eg a CAD and a PDF folder ( J:/BOBSGARAGE/J1034/CAD/ and J:/BOBSGARAGE/J1034/PDF/ ). JAQ will also move files around for you. Say for example you have been working on a Quote, and have been successful, so want to convert it into a job. Click a button on the Quote page and JAQ will create the job, job folders, and even copy the files from the Quote folder into the Job folder for you.

 

Some of JAQ's features

Customer and Supplier records. Including contacts, multiple address, Google Maps location and history.

Quotes. With JAQ you can create quotes, save as a PDF ready to email, track quote progress and success rate.

Jobs. Jobs can be created from scratch or from a quote. Each job can display a snapshot of how its progressing, current costs, booked hours, etc.

Sub-Jobs. JAQ will let you break a job up into pieces, and each piece can be scheduled, costed and its progress monitored in real time.

Purchases. Create and send purchase orders to your suppliers, and cost against any job.

Despatch. Goods can be dispatched when ready, JAQ will print out the despatch docket, record quantities and let you know what's outstanding.

Stock. JAQ has an in built stock/consumable system that works with its Jobs and Purchase system to keep track of current stock levels.

Time Sheets. Your employees can use JAQ to clock in and out, and record hours against jobs. JAQ understands charge rates and will record hours against a job, to display labour cost and charge totals.

PDF's and Barcodes. JAQ generates formatted PDF documents for purchasing, quoting, etc. The PDF's include your business logo. By using PDF files, you pretty much guarantee your customers and suppliers will be able to open the file you emailed to them ( unlike Word documents ). JAQ also prints a bar code on all purchases, delivery dockets, etc, and JAQ can be used with a hand held barcode reader to quickly display the details on screen. For example, an employee can book out a stock item or receive a delivery by simply scanning the bar code.

Remote Access. To access JAQ from outside your businesses computer network, say on the road with your smart phone or tablet PC, or from your home PC, you will need a internet connection to the server. Ideally this should be fire walled and I recommend you talk to your own IT personnel. Once set up, you can access most of JAQ's function, except for the folders and files ( though this can be set up using VPN ).

Equipment / Document / Employee registers. JAQ can track your equipment maintenance, your document register, and employee details, including certificates, licences, etc.

JAQ screen shots >>