Manufacturers can’t afford to lose productivity to prolonged equipment downtime, and maintenance professionals are tasked with ensuring machines remain up and running reliably. Mobile technology can help maintenance organizations such as Advanced Technology Services (ATS) to optimize work time for technicians to drive better results, making it possible for maintenance professionals to handle critical machine failures quickly and efficiently.
By leveraging these new technologies, ATS technicians can rapidly access drawings, view work instructions, and use technical forums to get the advice they need to resolve challenging problems and optimize results. Since apps are delivered on handheld devices, the technician has access to that information instantly, eliminating the need to go back and forth to open terminals to access data.
A mobility app can significantly improve execution of scheduled maintenance activities by putting integrated work instructions, drawings, parts lists, tool requirements, and safety pre-task analyses at the technician’s fingertips. Using tablets allows technicians to view work orders, collect root-cause failure data, and drive proactive disciplines that help reduce downtime. To get the best results, companies should look for a solution that includes robust workflow processes, metrics, and operating disciplines.
Saving time
The amount of time an advanced maintenance technology solution saves varies by industry sector, but it’s not unusual for construction equipment manufacturers to save up to an hour per technician on each shift. And these are just the initial time savings. Emerging capabilities will provide even more efficient, effective ways to address maintenance issues.
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Computerized maintenance management system A key tool in factory maintenance, computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) track work and use data to continuously improve the reliability of production machines. Moving from an internally developed CMMS to a more stable and robust platform, ATS developed eFactoryPro. ATS’ eFactoryPro incorporates standard CMMS features along with:
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In the past, a particularly complex issue could keep a machine offline until an OEM rep made an onsite visit to address it. In the future, streaming technology will enable technicians to provide video to distant experts, receive the advice they need to address the problem, and get the machine up and running quickly. Another major advantage will come in the form of access to massive amounts of critical information. Cloud-based content archives allow technicians to use tablets to retrieve complex schematics and search for key terms, giving them vital data instantly, wherever they are. This will enhance uptime by enabling technicians to get the information they need to maintain production equipment effectively.
Cloud-based inventory data will also give construction equipment manufacturers an edge by allowing technicians to locate spares quickly and view accurate parts inventory lists. With systems that enable database uploads from numerous sources, users will have important information, such as parts-use history.
For advanced troubleshooting capability, maintenance forums allow technicians to share knowledge, benefiting from query capabilities and keyword searches to locate first-hand accounts of how technicians solved similar problems in the past. The result: enhanced machine knowledge, faster problem resolution, and reduced downtime.
Maximizing efficiency
Mobile capabilities can improve efficiency and productivity. A technician with mobile maintenance software can monitor key performance indicators, report machine availability, and quickly handle repairs – all without ever leaving the shop floor.
Manufacturers seeking a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving marketplace need new ways to minimize time to market while maximizing efficiency. With a mobility app that technicians can access on the go, companies can operate more effectively in their day-to-day tasks while also generating and analyzing big data to help them predict failures and resolve issues before they happen. That’s how today’s top-tier maintenance organizations are speeding production, reducing downtime, and competing on the global stage.
Advanced Technology Services Inc.
www.advancedtech.com