McDonald's Reduces Payroll Costs with Ingersoll Rand Recognition Systems Biometric HandPunches

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McDonald's Reduces Payroll Costs with Ingersoll Rand Recognition Systems Biometric HandPunches

HandPunch Eliminates Expensive "Buddy Punching." Over 3,400 Employees at 85 Restaurants Have Clocked In and Out Biometrically.

CAMPBELL, CALIF. – December 12, 2006 – Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies today announced that 85 McDonald's restaurants are cutting payroll costs by up to 22 percent annually after incorporating the company’s Ingersoll Rand Recognition Systems' biometric HandPunch biometric terminals to record time and attendance. The HandPunch terminal eliminates expenses associated with employee badges and fraud caused by buddy punching. Over 3,400 employees at 85 McDonald's restaurants in Venezuela have been enrolled with the HandPunch over the past four years. On average, the system generates over 7,500 transactions each day resulting in over 2.5 million “punches” annually.
"McDonald's moved to biometrics because they wanted to verify that the employee clocking in was really that person," says Jose Ramon Casal of Caracas-based Electronica Quantum, which installed the systems. "Students make up about 90 percent of the McDonald's workforce in Venezuela. They were frequently punching one another in to cover for exams or other school-related events.
“A card only verifies a card,” adds Casal. “We have used finger scanning for other applications, but we believe that hand geometry is more effective and produces fewer errors when there are larger employee populations. With hand geometry, a larger area is scanned than with finger scans and the template is updated after every scan so it remains current.”
Instead of filling out or punching timecards, employees simply place their hands on the HandPunch. It automatically takes a three-dimensional reading of the size and shape of the employee’s hand and verifies the user’s identity in less than one second.
“McDonald’s worldwide success has been built on being fast, convenient and affordable. These are the same key factors that have made our hand geometry readers the most widely used biometric in the industry. That's why they choose hand geometry over other biometrics,” reports Bashar Masad, marketing manager for Ingersoll Rand Recognition Systems. “With major fast food retailers such as McDonald's realizing such tremendous cost savings by using our HandPunches, others are soon to follow.”
Supervisors at each franchise using the HandPunch terminals authorize and verify employee time and overtime on a computer located at the store. The hours are then sent to a central payroll processing center via a telephone line. The supervisors themselves also use the HandPunch to clock in and out.
"Most supervisors at McDonald's are promoted from within and many find it difficult to impose rules and restrictions on their fellow workers,” Casal explains. “The HandPunch ensures that everyone is treated the same and fairly. McDonald's employees are satisfied with the HandPunches because their payroll information is processed quickly and without mistakes. They receive regular reports with information about their time and attendance."
Language is not an issue because the software is in Spanish and the HandPunch readers accommodate several languages.
About Electronica Quantum
Electronica Quantum, a Caracas, Venezuela-based systems integrator, has offered security and time-and-attendance solutions to customers in Latin America since 1983. The company offers a wide variety of technologies to its customers, including access control, CCTV, intercom and fire safety systems, time and attendance solutions, and explosives and drug detection services. About 20 percent of Electronica Quantum's business is in time and attendance solutions, while security comprises the other 80 percent. The company provides turnkey solutions to its clients.

About Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies

Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Sector is a leading global provider of products and services that make environments safe, secure and productive. The sector’s market-leading products include electronic and biometric access control systems; time-and-attendance and personnel scheduling systems; mechanical locks; portable security; door closers, exit devices, architectural hardware, and steel doors and frames; and other technologies and services for global security markets. Website is www.securitytechologies.ingersollrand.com.

Ingersoll Rand is a leading diversified industrial company providing products, services and integrated solutions to industries ranging from transportation and manufacturing to food retailing, construction, and agriculture. With a 135-year-old heritage of technological innovation, we help companies worldwide to be more productive, efficient and innovative. In every line of our business, Ingersoll Rand enables companies and their customers to create progress.

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PHOTO: For a high-resolution photograph of a HandPunch at McDonald’s, go to www.brighamscully.com and click Photos/ Recognition Systems.

For more information…
Bashar Masad Tom Brigham
INGERSOLL RAND SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES BRIGHAM SCULLY
408-341-4100 818-716-9021
bashar_masad@irco.com tbrigham@brighamscully.com

163-120806