OPTIMIZE ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT WITH MOBILE Extend Innovation to the Edge of the Enterprise 919-835-0810 www.prometheusgroup.com
OVERVIEW Mobility has already established its place in many workplaces as a priority and continues to grow as its benefits are realized. For example, according to Gartner, Manufacturing CIO s reported that mobility was their second highest technology priority for their organizations between 2013 through 2015 1. Why are more and more companies adopting mobile? One business driver is the new realities of today s mobile workforce where information and tools are needed where the work is being performed. One major benefit of mobile is that it gives users immediate access to information when they need it and where they need it, plus the ability to interact in real time. In addition, asset management systems and the people using them rely on up-to date and accurate data to perform their jobs, therefore accurately capturing data and entering it at the source is essential. Mobile devices allow organizations to capture data at the transaction point, as well as provide remote asset monitoring and control. 2 Having the ability to collect information and enter it directly into the EAM system in realtime provides for better decision making and faster reaction time, minimizing downtime, increasing asset availability and meeting compliance standards. In the manufacturing environment, mobility has a strong role to play. Adding mobile devices to perform asset management activities that work with EAM systems can help organizations save time and increase efficiency by freeing the workforce from their desktops. This white paper will explore the benefits of using mobile devices in asset management activities and how mobile can extend innovation to the edge of the enterprise. HOW CAN MOBILE ENHANCE ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT? Many industries have already recognized the benefits of empowering their workforce with mobile devices. However, to get the full benefit of mobility, organizations need to clearly define their mobile strategy and identify why it will help their organization. This is especially the case for enterprise asset management. Adding mobile to asset management activities can yield great benefits. For example, increasing productivity and maximizing wrench time is a top priority. A typical organization sees only about 3 or 4 hours of actual wrench time per 10-hour day. There are a number of factors that contribute to this figure, including gathering required documents, travel and waiting on updates. Mobile devices can help increase productivity and wrench time because it allows technicians to have instant access to work orders, notifications, documentation and safety information wherever they are. This ensures the ability to make repairs quickly and maintain up-to-date and accurate reporting. These measures will also help save time and money by reducing downtime and increasing asset availability. 1 Gartner: Market Trends: Value Propositions for Mobility Proliferate in the Manufacturing Industry 29 Aug. 2012 2 Deloitte: Implementing an Enterprise Mobility Strategy 23 Aug. 2011 OPTIMIZE ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT WITH MOBILE 2
In addition to increasing productivity and wrench time, the use of mobile also improves asset availability, decreases risks and helps meet compliance standards. For example a maintenance worker who has a mobile device is able to gather field information, such as equipment breakdowns, and enter notifications in real-time into asset management systems for quicker decision making and faster reaction time. WHAT MOBILE FUNCTIONALITY IS NEEDED? While mobility can offer a number of benefits, a challenge is to decide which asset management tasks or functionalities need to be available via mobile. Mobile devices should integrate processes, streamline workflow and reduce steps to save time. A study by Motorola found that manufacturers with mobility applications saved an average of 42 minutes per employee per day 3. For a mobility solution to add value, it must be simple to use and easy to access with an intuitive interface. It is also crucial to have a mobile solution that is customized for your organization s business needs and the user. According to the Symantec State of Mobility study, 71 percent of companies are already using or are planning to use custom mobile applications 4. Some other features that a mobile solution should offer include: Access to real-time data Instantaneous access to information such as work orders, documentation, equipment history and notifications will make a mobile solution more valuable for asset management. Instantaneous access to information such as work orders, documentation, equipment history and notifications will make a mobile solution more valuable for asset management. For example, a technician who is able to use a mobile app to see work orders or view drawings working remotely will be able to make a repair faster than if he has to spend time gathering all the necessary documents for the repair. Real-time data entry In addition to having instant access to information to perform maintenance work, it is also important that a mobile solution allows for real-time data entry at the source, such as notifications of new equipment breakdowns, measurements and time entry. For example, a technician in the field can enter a new notification of an equipment failure that immediately goes into the asset management system for a planner to create a work order without delay. Work completely within the EAM system A mobile solution should be an extension of your asset management system and work entirely within it when performing tasks, retrieving information and entering data. For example, entering notifications and equipment information from a mobile device should go directly into the asset management system without any middleware or manual processes that can cause delays or loss of data. 3 Reliable Plant: Poll: Manufacturers Seek to Leverage Mobile, Wireless Solutions 4 Symantec: Symantec Survey Reveals Significant Adoption of Enterprise Mobile Apps, IT Focuses on Balancing Benefits and Risks Feb. 2012 OPTIMIZE ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT WITH MOBILE 3
Access to routes and inspections For maintenance technicians who are performing routes and inspections, they should be able to use their mobile device to view their routes, access equipment history as well as enter new measurements in real-time. In addition, they need to be able to respond to new equipment failures and quickly enter new notifications with required information directly into the asset management system. Easy to use/configurable One of the challenges to mobile is gaining user adoption when the mobile application is not intuitive and hard to use. Often times it is challenging to make detailed interfaces work on a tablet or smart phone. However, this challenge can be overcome by developing the mobile application in the native language of the device to maximize its functionality. In addition, user adoption can be increased by identifying the types of users and customizing the interface based on role. Visibility of pictures The saying a picture is worth a thousand words applies to plant maintenance. Why spend minutes typing up a description on how a piece of equipment is broken when a picture can help tell the story? Mobile applications for plant maintenance should have the ability to attach pictures associated with equipment breakdowns. This helps create a record of breakdowns and provide better visibility into equipment reliability. A mobile solution should be an extension of your asset management system and work entirely within it when performing tasks, retrieving information and entering data. Barcode scanning The ability to scan a barcode with a mobile device can help save time and improve searching for equipment information. Not only can barcode scanning help with the history of a piece of equipment, this functionality can also be used to search for parts. Search options Mobile solutions should make searching for information easy in order to maximize user efficiency. For example, a mobile solution with search options for the availability and location of spare parts will help improve repair timelines. OPTIMIZE ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT WITH MOBILE 4
Document viewing The ability to view documents in a variety of formats such as PDF will help arm technicians with all the information they need to make informed decisions about work orders and assignments. Mobile solutions should provide access to key documents such as work order instructions, technical documents and safety instructions. Another added benefit of this functionality is that it helps cut down on printing. Quick implementation and flexible deployment Adding mobility should not be a lengthy process. By having a quick and flexible deployment of mobile solutions, organizations will immediately be able to see the benefits of the solution. Work online and offline Because workers in the field may not always be connected, a mobile solution should allow the user to work offline and then automatically upload information once a connection has been established. PROMETHEUS MOBILE SOLUTION Prometheus Mobile solutions provide an intuitive, feature rich mobile application designed to work entirely within your SAP systems, integrating processes and extending your asset management capabilities to the field. Designed for asset management activities in SAP, Prometheus Mobile addresses the various use cases and is configurable, allowing users to perform their work depending on their role. For example, maintenance workers in the field can see on their mobile device their work orders and schedules, as well equipment history and other information needed to perform the work. In addition to retrieving information, essential data can be entered directly into SAP in real time, such as start/end times, updated equipment history, pictures, and new notifications of equipment failure. Also, offline users can conveniently store their work on the mobile device while they are in the field and out of communication range and Prometheus Mobile will automatically upload the transactions when a connection is detected. Finally, Prometheus Mobile is compatible with a wide variety of devices including, Windows, ios (Apple) and Android, and is developed in the native application for each, providing for a rich user experience. OPTIMIZE ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT WITH MOBILE 5
Benefits of Prometheus Mobile include: Improved, more efficient work flow Instantaneous reporting of breakdowns with real-time notifications Accurate time confirmations from field technicians Access to equipment history while in the field Attached pictures associated with equipment breakdowns (if mobile device is capable) Barcode scanning to find equipment numbers (if mobile device is capable) Search options for availability and location of spare parts Access to schedules, work orders, technical documents and BOMs when needed Safety instructions on-site Work order assignment to specific technicians without printing CONCLUSION Mobility can offer numerous benefits for plant maintenance, including increased productivity, decreased costs and reduced risks. However, it is crucial to identify a mobile solution that integrates multiple processes, works within your SAP system, is simple to use and can help improve user workflow. For SAP users, Prometheus Mobile offers a way to leverage SAP for plant maintenance activities by providing real-time access to information as well as data entry at the source, all within your SAP system. As the asset management experts with SAP certified solutions, Prometheus is able to offer a solution that best fits plant maintenance needs in SAP. Prometheus Mobile can be configured to fit your organization s mobile needs. ABOUT Prometheus Group enables unified enterprise asset optimization through an integrated approach to planning, scheduling, work management and business analytics across routine and preventive maintenance, shutdowns/ turnarounds, and production scheduling. Unlike the competition, Prometheus packaged software is easy to use, can be implemented in weeks, and allows a business to quickly improve operational efficiency and the effectiveness of work processes to gain competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.prometheusgroup.com. UNITED STATES +1 (919) 835-0810 NETHERLANDS +31 20 894 6457 UNITED KINGDOM +44 (0) 1482 488030 BRAZIL +55 11 3728-9372 CHINA +86-(0)512-85665155 2014 Prometheus Group, Inc. All rights reserved. August 2014