Time Attendance System for Steel and Metal Fabrication Workshops in Kenya: Setup Guide

01Why steel and metal fabrication workshops need a time attendance record

Welders and fabricators are paid for hours on the shop floor, and a job's labour cost depends on getting those hours right.

• Overtime is high when orders are tight
• Dust and grease make sensors unreliable
• Casual welders are added for big jobs

A paper register or a verbal "I was here" cannot settle these. A fingerprint terminal records when each person actually arrives and leaves, and the software turns that into a report payroll can use.

02How attendance works at steel and metal fabrication workshops

Fabrication shops start early and run overtime when orders are due. Welders, fitters and helpers work on the shop floor, while admin and drawing staff work office hours. Casual hands join for large jobs.

03Where to put the terminal

Put the terminal at the shop entrance in a clean, covered spot, not near the cutting or grinding area. A card or face option can help if fingerprints are worn.

Count how many people arrive at the same time. If a queue forms at shift change, add a second terminal instead of asking staff to wait. See where to install a ZKTeco K40 Pro and how many employees one terminal can handle.

04Setting it up in ZKBio Time.Net

This is the order we follow when we set up a system for steel and metal fabrication workshops. Each step has its own guide with screenshots.

1. Install the software, then add the terminal over TCP/IP.
2. Create departments or areas that match how you are organised (departments and areas).
3. Add staff one by one or import them from Excel, then enrol their fingerprints.
4. Set a standard day and a clear overtime rule, and add casuals for the job duration.
5. Press Calculate and check the first day's report before you trust the numbers (Calculate attendance).

05Reports you will actually use

Use overtime and monthly hours to cost jobs and to pay casual welders accurately.

They all come from the standard reports: daily report, late and early report, and export to Excel for payroll.

06Supply and installation by Qyvea

Qyvea Limited supplies ZKTeco attendance terminals, installs them, configures the software, enrols your staff and trains whoever runs payroll. We work in Nairobi and deliver countrywide. See ZKTeco K40 price in Kenya or message us on WhatsApp for a quote.

07Related guide

A wider guide for this sector: Biometric attendance for garages and workshops.

08A typical scenario

A fabrication owner priced jobs on estimated labour hours, then found actual costs higher. Punch records showed overtime bunched at the end of each job, which changed how he planned deadlines.

Illustrative example based on common cases, not a named customer.

09Common mistakes

• Mounting the terminal next to grinding where dust blocks the sensor.
• Expecting calloused fingers to read first time every time.
• Not defining overtime rules before turning it on.

10Quick checklist

1. Count staff and entrances before you buy.
2. Write the working hours down as timetables.
3. Enrol everyone, including casual and part-time staff.
4. Run a one-week trial and compare it with your old register.
5. Name one person who owns the reports.

11Frequently asked questions