Reducing Cycle Time with Mobile Maintenance Software
Now that our FM:Mobile mobile maintenance software has been in the hands of our customers for more than a year I have had the opportunity to speak with a number of them to see how they are increasing efficiency with mobile maintenance tools in the daily facilities management workflows. The main thing that we hear back in terms of advantage is referred to as “reduced cycle time”. The concept is not surprising as it simply means that if a mobile worker has information and capabilities available at their fingertips they can get things done more quickly. This includes accessing information quickly and easily as well as reduced trips back to their office or desk for information they don’t have with them. If mobile workers are experiencing reduced cycle time because of greater efficiency this also can help them respond to a greater number of requests due to the fact that each individual task is taking less time.
Below are some examples of ways that maintenance technicians and maintenance managers can spend more fixing problems with mobile maintenance software and less time going back and forth to their office when data is not readily available at their fingertips:
Maintenance Managers
- Assign work to a qualified technician who is physically closest to the problem which can reduce response time and travel distance
- Run real-time status reports in the field without having to go back to your office to access your computer or printed reports
- Check technician workloads and assign or re-assign work accordingly to keep your team balanced and working smoothly
Maintenance Technicians
- Access to digital facilities data via the mobile device which can reduce the need to travel back to the office to look up asset information such as PM procedures, warranty and parts information
- Increased trip efficiency by allowing technicians to look up other work that they are qualified to perform that needs to be completed in the location where they are
- Look up and supplement work order and equipment information with accurate data and photos gathered directly in the field
