BOSCH SECURITY PROJECTS DEMONSTRABLE MAINTENANCE

Bosch Security Projects provides high-quality security systems and also preventive maintenance. The Dutch army is one of many clients using Bosch systems for access control and other applications. It is important to the army as well that security systems work reliably. For this reason, Bosch regularly performs preventive maintenance. For major clients with strict security requirements, sometimes as many as 150,000 components are checked for each maintenance order. Partly because of the size of the projects, service employees were frequently checking whether all components had been tested. Reports for clients were not always clear and well-organized either. This created the need to use a database in which all testing and measuring data was stored to ensure that work is uniform.

Question
To make clear reporting possible with demonstrable work, Bosch decided to further automate the scheduling and recording process. Bosch wanted to implement a back-office system to process test data and keep test directives up to date. Because technicians needed a portable computer, Bosch opted for a PDA and for Sigmax Mobile Solutions. Important considerations were that Bosch would be actively involved in the design, the solution would be developed together and the solution was actually the one required, not a one-size-fits-all standard solution that didn’t quite fit.

Solution
The Bosch head office prepares the order. At the press of a button, technicians call up the entire order on their PDAs with all relevant tests and work directives. Technicians scan the barcode on a device and record the results of corresponding tests on a PDA. When a check is completed, the test disappears from the screen. Once in a while, technicians meet and exchange test results (confirmation). This lets them know which parts of the order have not yet been completed. Technicians synchronize results with the back-office. The head office processes the results in a concise and clear report on points of attention.

Hidden yield
“Almost every employee now has a PDA and it is part of their standard equipment with the toolbox and laptop. The use of PDAs is more pleasant for service employees as well as clients. Because there is time saved and a clear report and nothing ends up forgotten, there is clearly a win-win situation”, says Roeland Staal, manager, operations at Robert Bosch B.V.