Paperless thanks to tablet app
Since spring 2014, one of Switzerland's largest beverage producers has been using an app developed by Basel-based mobile specialist Terria Mobile for the maintenance of its production facilities. Thanks to this new, paperless solution, the maintenance process is simpler, more efficient and easier to control.
The employees of the beverage producer's maintenance department are responsible for the regular maintenance of the plants and infrastructure. Several times a day, the technicians check the various supply and production systems such as compressors, water supply and heating systems on their rounds. Previously, this maintenance process was purely paper-based. There were numerous checklists that had to be used to check each machine. Overall, this process was very time-consuming and the administration, evaluation and control of the maintenance activities carried out were also prone to errors. In some cases, this led to delays in the checks and subsequently to defects in the infrastructure, which resulted in costly repairs.
The maintenance department of the beverage producer was therefore looking for an innovative solution that would make the maintenance process easier and more reliable. With the app developed by Terria Mobile, this process was redesigned and improved.
App adapts to user needs
Before each tour, employees log into the app on their tablet. This also makes it possible to record the working time spent on maintenance and reuse it in a time management or ERP system. During the tour, the inspectors use the app to scan a QR code that has been applied to each machine specifically for this purpose. The app then immediately displays the inspection points to be checked and the respective target values. The inspector works through the individual points, enters the results directly in the app and can also add a comment if required. Machine manuals can also be stored in the app.
The app is designed in such a way that the correct manual for an exam is automatically displayed. The underlying idea is that the app always knows what the user wants. This means that the user has the desired information and functions immediately at hand.
App content is managed by the maintenance department itself
Once the inspection tour has been completed, the app sends the results to the managers in the maintenance department, making it easy to see if an inspection point does not meet the target value. This also ensures that the entire maintenance process is documented electronically. The maintenance department itself can manage the various contents of the app. To do this, they use a content and app management system distributed by Terria Mobile. This backend allows the management, modification and addition of new checklists, inspection points, machines, manuals, etc. The changes to the app content are then automatically transferred to the tablets.
Enrichment for the work
The new app is an enrichment for the maintenance team. The employees like working with it because it is easy to use and makes maintenance easier for them. Even the older colleagues who are about to retire find the app very practical. The management is also convinced by the app. The maintenance process is now easier, more efficient and more controllable than before. It also showed that the rounds are carried out more regularly and problems are identified and escalated more quickly than before.
The solution developed by Terria Mobile can be used everywhere in maintenance, generally everywhere where checklists are used. The customer is now also planning to use the app in other parts of the company. Another department is already using the solution to control and maintain its fleet of vehicles.
