My name is Gordon Sterling from a company called AMT-SYBEX. We are the MIMS/Ellipse implementer for Mincom in Europe, but also have a presence in Asia/Pacific.
We have developed a handheld solution for MIMS running on Pocket PC, Windows CE and Windows. It is called FDCS and example applications include:
- Work Orders to field
- Work Order completion
- Labour Capture
- Asset verification and condition
- Creation of new work in the field
- Capture of material usage.
The system is being utilised by blue chip companies such as National Grid Transco, Network Rail and Scottish Power.
We do use the Mincom Connector. We have developed adaptors for this (which we have also done for use with major EAI products) to make the process easier.
At the '02 Aus User Conference, you demo'd the inspection application for handhelds that is being used by the rail industry in the U.K. I believe that you said the templates can be customized to suit the customer needs. Will you please email me info on the app? We now have a wireless network in our pit and want to do all operator inspections, training evals, etc from within the pit using handheld and tablet PC's. We will be using Citrix to connect to Ellipse, but need an inspection checklist that we can then use to create WO's in Ellipse if a defect is identified.
I would like to offer some advice (or warnings) on this issue if I may. Particularly on the downsides of a few of the hand held devices that I have seen regularly used throughout various markets.
I would counsel people to be careful of anything that requires you to develop external scripts to MIMS. There are a number of very basic reasons for this.
1. The templates for work execution lie within the MSO690 module (Standard jobs) By creating external scripts there is an effort in duplicating this template bank. Therefore weakening the total solution. This is a terrible error in my view because it relegates the entire system to one of merely producing administrative records rather than managing the work as such. (Eg producing an indication that work needs to be done rather than producing the work order, with procedures etc)
If there are differing pieces of equipment then the amount of external templates to the system begins to increase markedly until such time as there is a need for management of both these sscripts was well as the system itself.
2. There is often the need to continue engaging the vendor for development and management of said scripts.
3. There is, at times, a lack of ability to create works arising from type work orders.
4. These hand held devices, which sometimes represent palm tops style PC´s, are often not suitable for the rugged environments in which many maintainers work. I think this is part of the trend towards IT people taking poorly informed decisions for asset management people.
I have seen one very rugged barcoding style solution that enabled the vast majority of information to be entered rapidly and in a way that does not require technicians dealing with palm top style pc´s. However for my money the best products are still out of the reach of most companies in economic terms.
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