As a National Football League (NFL) team equipment manager, your number one concern is overseeing the vast array of equipment necessary to keep players safe and performing at their best. It’s critical that staff use a system to simplify and organize the equipment room, consolidating all necessary information into one accessible platform. 

Chris Smith, Equipment Manager for the LA Chargers, first started using Teamworks Inventory Management, formerly known as TRAC, six years ago. Prior to 2018, the Chargers inventory was managed through a company-built system that was largely manual, time-consuming and lacked the necessary features for automation. As an NFL team handling over 50 different vendors and more than 30 orders a week, an efficient process is much needed. 

We sat down with Smith and the Chargers’ Equipment Assistant, Chad Jessop, to explore how they’ve used Inventory Management to transform their operations.

1. Keeping Up with the Helmet Revolution

The world of football equipment is ever-evolving, particularly with the constant introduction of new helmet styles and technologies. Under current NFL rules, teams can have up to three helmet designs, each costing $500 – $1000+. Including helmets that needed to be replaced due to safety concerns, performance, player purchases or roster changes, an NFL equipment staff manages over 200 helmets at a given time. Typically, an NFL team replaces about 90% of its helmets every year.

Smith and his staff use Inventory Management to ensure players always have the latest and safest helmets available. From the number of new helmets added or being reconditioned, what’s currently on hand, and what needs to be ordered– it’s all in Inventory Management. 

2. One Complete View of the Inventory Lifecycle

For the Chargers’ equipment staff, one of the most powerful features of Inventory Management is its ability to manage serialized items, which shows an item’s complete lifecycle. 

Helmets and shoulder pads are tracked meticulously from the moment they are issued to a player to when they undergo reconditioning and then when they are returned to the shelf. With equipment in a constant state of flux, Inventory Management ensures the staff knows exactly how much they need to purchase from their vendors and enables them to better control costs.

“Being able to observe that detailed lifecycle tracking is extremely valuable and cool. We can easily see the exact journey, for example, of a helmet: who it was issued to, if it was reconditioned and why, and if it was returned to the shelf. In the case of issues or injuries, having this level of detail on a piece of equipment is critical.”

Chad Jessop, Chargers’ Equipment Assistant

NFL players often purchase their equipment from the team. Inventory Management allows the equipment staff to generate separate receipts for each transaction, allowing them to track player purchases and see inventory levels to ensure they don’t run out of inventory. This feature has made the jersey swapping that we commonly see in today’s game significantly easier for equipment staff to manage and plan for.

3. Mobile Inventory Management

Inventory Management’s mobile functionality allows Smith and his staff to scan items on the go at the stadium or on the road, access player sizing information directly from their phones and more. This flexibility is essential as the staff is rarely at their desks, often issuing equipment in various locations.

4. The Power of Data Sharing

The Inventory Management team and the Chargers collaborated on creating the shareable player profile feature at the top of the web screen, which creates a clean presentation of player information. This standout feature within Inventory Management houses all player sizing and equipment information, complete with team logos, so detailed player profiles can easily be shared with other NFL teams as players are traded or picked up. 

“We also appreciate when other NFL equipment managers use Inventory Management, so we receive the same level of detailed player profiles that we send out to teams.”

Chad Jessop, Chargers’ Equipment Assistant

Another appreciated feature of the Chargers’ equipment staff is the order automation process, which saves them from manual data entry. For example, Smith shared that when they place orders through Nike Gameday and other vendors, the items, sizes, and quantities are input immediately and matched up to ensure order transparency and streamline receiving orders.

5. Data-Driven Decisions

Inventory Management’s robust data analytics capabilities have transformed how decisions are made within the organization regarding equipment. Smith and his staff can now project inventory needs for specific projects, such as a particular t-shirt order, without requiring manual counts. Promotional items, replica helmets, autographs, and community relations gear are all accounted for and allocated efficiently.

From lifecycle tracking of serialized items to seamless information sharing and mobile functionality, Inventory Management has transformed how Smith and the Chargers manage their equipment. The relationship between the Chargers and the Inventory Management Product Success Team is a testament to the power of connected communication and continuous improvement. 

Looking ahead, the Chargers are excited about future integrations with Inventory Management and other Teamworks products that enhance communication and seamless transfers of player information.

To see why the Chargers love Inventory Management so much, click here.