In the commodities and recycling business, margin is measured in pennies per pound. A pile of "Copper #1 Wire Shiny" is a high-value asset, but without a documented Net Weight and a verifiable Date Received, it is just a liability waiting to be stolen or devalued by market fluctuations.

The Philosophy of Material Integrity

The "Custom inventory" template is designed for the processor who understands that commodities are currency. It moves your yard management from a clipboard to a forensic-grade digital scale. By standardizing the capture of the Type and the specific Location (e.g., "2050 Williams Rd"), the system ensures that every pound of material is accounted for. It acknowledges that knowing what you have is only half the battle; knowing where it is and who bought it is the key to profitability.

The Blueprint: Commodity Architecture

The structure of this library is built to handle the heavy, bulk nature of industrial materials.

  • Material Classification: The Type choice field—distinguishing between Copper #2 Pipe, Copper #1 Wire Shiny, and Cardboard—allows you to segment your inventory by market value. This is critical for prioritizing processing and sales efforts.
  • The Weight Matrix: The Net Weight field is the financial heart of the record. By capturing this data at the point of intake, you establish a baseline for all future transactions.
  • Lifecycle Tracking: The boolean Sold? field and the accompanying Date Sold create a clear timeline of asset turnover. This allows you to track inventory velocity and identify slow-moving stock that is tying up capital.

Managing the Outbound Flow

The ultimate goal of any processing yard is the sale. This template manages the hand-off with fields for Buyer and Condition. Knowing that a specific lot was sold to a particular buyer allows for rapid reconciliation if there are disputes about quality or weight. The Condition field (e.g., "Damaged" vs. "Excellent") provides the nuance required to justify pricing variances for similar material types.

Power Feature: Visual Chain of Custody

By utilizing Memento’s Photo field, you can document the quality of the material at the moment of intake. A high-resolution image of a bale of copper wire prevents "downgrading" disputes with buyers later. It creates a visual chain of custody that protects your margins and proves the integrity of your grading standards.