Field workers for PowerSystems, part of the ScottishPower Group,
have a tough job locating faults in the power network covering vast
areas of Scotland, Wales and North West England.
Now, thanks to the work of the company’s recent Mobile Workforce
Management Project, they are armed with an effective tool to combat
power failures and get supplies restored.
The Operations Business Unit of PowerSystems is responsible for the
maintenance of the electrical network across Southern and Central
Scotland, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.
Engineers involved in supply restoration activity need access to
detailed diagrams showing the relevant electrical infrastructure, so
they can pinpoint the location of power lines and carry out repairs
quickly and safely.
Before field technology became available, field staff either had to
rely on paper records kept within their vehicles or were forced to
travel to depot offices to print off current diagrams. So they could
be sure of receiving the latest, accurate information on site, it was
necessary to equip the workforce with a mobile communications
solution. The Mobile Workforce Management Project was
launched to assess the efficiency of the field technology in use and
to investigate the alternative solutions available.
“As our aim was to get the best equipment for delivering large
volumes of data in the field as well as being able to stand up to
extreme outdoor conditions, we carried out a full environmental scan
of all available technology.
This involved external consultancy and a series of site reference
visits to UK utilities.” Matt Corr, Senior Business Consultant,
PowerSystems
Switching on to new technology
With its 30GB hard disk and GPRS capability the ToughBook CF28 offered
the ideal solution to cope with both current and future field
workloads. The first ToughBooks were delivered in September 2001
enabling pilot rollouts in Glasgow and Liverpool to begin on schedule.
Loaded with PowerSystems’ existing GIS viewing tool – Map Access 32 –
the units also carry other software including MS MapPoint to assist
with navigation, MS Outlook for remote e-mail access and MS Office for
accessing standard applications.
A surge in team morale
Improvements in the efficiency of field operations have been
noticeable since introducing ToughBook technology.
Not only can field staff save time and expense by travelling
directly to site, the dependence on out-of-date paper maps has been
eradicated with subsequent risk reduction and improved safety levels.
In addition, user feedback has revealed a high level of satisfaction
with the new system and a significant improvement in the morale and
self-esteem of everyone involved.
“The solution has moved field working within PowerSystems into a
new culture in terms of use of technology.
It also positions the business well for further improvement in this
area.” David Rutherford, General Manager, Operations Business,
PowerSystems.
High-level support from Panasonic While Panasonic provided
effective technical assistance throughout the implementation,
PowerSystems took advantage of their Bronze support package providing
a year’s Accidental Damage cover and 3 years’ Return to Base warranty.
Considerable savings were also made on the Phase 2 delivery in
December 2001, through Panasonic’s Gold Build offering. Under this
agreement, Panasonic keeps a master image of applications and data to
apply to future purchases, minimising the effort required by the
customer on delivery of the new devices.
Panasonic has also proved to live up to its promise of rapid
replacement.
“The only fault occurring during the implementation of the project
was a cracked screen, following a vehicle collision. The device was
uplifted and returned in perfect working order within 5 days, well
within the 8-day commitment offered under the Bronze package.” Matt
Corr.
No training required
ToughBook’s ease of use has been put to the test in unusual
circumstances with PowerSystems.
During an emergency over Christmas and New Year 2001, senior
managers found they could use the ToughBooks in real-life fault
conditions with minimal training, and were surprised by the facilities
the solution offered.
On another occasion, an experienced Engineer arrived on site to
review a fault only to find that the jointer had already accessed
network information via ToughBook and had a plan of action in place.
A future assured
Due to the success of the project, the original order for 100 was
increased to 330 by the end of March 2002, allowing comprehensive
coverage across the Operations Business unit of PowerSystems.
“The project has been perceived as a tremendous success within the
business by management and users alike - a real 'win win' situation.
This is due to excellent support from key technology partners such
as Panasonic, ICL and SAIC utilities and a high level of input and
acceptance from the user population throughout the project.” David
Rutherford.
PowerSystems is now progressing the next phase of their Mobile
Workforce programme in an attempt to build on the success of the
existing platform and prioritise solution enhancements for their
operational field staff.
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