Questions and OpenMETRIC's Management Functions
3. Management Functions
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Does the system have a user-friendly, menu-driven, report generator that is fully integrated with the database? If not, how are ad hoc reports generated? |
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Yes.
WonderWriter is OpenMETRIC’s integrated report generator. In addition,
however, OpenMETRIC’s database can be reported by numerous
ODBC-compliant report generators such as Crystal Reports. If
OpenMETRIC’s database resides on a RDBMS (Oracle, SQL Server,
etc.) then reports can also be generated by reporting tools
included or available for these database systems. |
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What reports are delivered with your system? Please provide examples. |
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OpenMETRIC incorporates
literally hundreds of “reports” for distributing information.
These “reports” are designed to blend into the normal usage of
OpenMETRIC so they become natural extensions to the information management
and retrieval of the system.
OpenMETRIC
“reports” can be broken down into the following categories or
mechanisms.
Except for the
Template-driven Traveler which includes an embedded bar code font, all
OpenMETRIC “reports” are generated and automatically passed to a
specified word processor, typically Microsoft Word (the word processor to
use is specified in the Reference table and may be different for canned
reports as opposed to WonderWriter and PLB reports).
Each of the generated “reports” attempts to invoke an
appropriate Macro which will format the report “nicely.”
Directions for creating the macros are included in each OpenMETRIC
shipment (see OpenMETRIC Macro Instructions.doc attached hereto).
From Word, any
“report” can be saved to a file, printed, emailed, faxed, converted to
HTML for posting to a web site, etc.
EXPORTABLE PAGED LIST
BOXES:
Throughout OpenMETRIC, paged
list boxes are used to make data entry easier, more consistent, and more
accurate. PLB’s are
typically. invoked by hitting buttons with Record Finders or Field Finders
(binocular icons) to the right of data fields.
In some cases, PLB’s are invoked by hitting a button with a field
label to the left of a data field. (Record
Finders are indicated by binoculars in front of a “tangerine” file
folder and Field Finders are indicated by binoculars in front of a
“grapefruit” file folder. During
updates, finders are switched to “lime” file folders.)
PLB’s are basically
powerful database queries available at the touch of a button.
PLB’s can be filtered, including the use of “wild cards.”
The query that
satisfies the PLB query can be exported by simply hitting the Export
button. OpenMETRIC
automatically formats the information in the PLB into a report with
appropriate headers and structure. The
generated report is automatically passed to the specified word processor
for exported PLB’s, typically Microsoft Word.
The default macro is automatically applied to the report.
The user can then distribute the report in whatever manner is
necessary or appropriate (save to a file, print, email, fax, convert to
HTML and post to a web site, etc.).
There are
approximately 110 different PLB’s in OpenMETRIC, each of which can be
filtered by one or more pre-defined fields.
These can then be exported and distributed as appropriate.
From the
fully-functional evaluation copy of OpenMETRIC and sample data, each of
the PLB’s may be displayed, filtered, and exported
EXAMPLE:
If I needed to get a list of
the items currently assigned to the Using Customer “SUE”, I merely
invoke the Items PLB from the Record Finder (red binoculars) to the right
of the Item field on the Item tab. This
produces the Items PLB as follows.
By typing “SUE” in the Using Customer (“Use
Cust”) field and hitting the Match button, I get the following filtered
PLB.
Now, by hitting the Export
button, I get the following “report” from Word (actually generated in
this example by cut/paste, but could have been printed, emails, faxed,
etc.).
Items 09/29/2001 AdministratoItem ID Mfr Model Stat Plant Building Room Use Custmr Serial # Fac -------------------- ----- -------------------- ----- ----- ---------- --------------- ---------- -------------------- ----- SUE ==================== ===== ==================== ===== ===== ========== =============== ========== ==================== =====1 GE PH-45313-ID CBU A3TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE SERIAL12345678901234 TUCSN 1112 GE2 LMP-998376-HAL ACTIV TUCSN FAIRVIEWAA ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 9234 SFRAN 111ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO KMART LMP-998376-HAL ACTIV TUCSN FAIRVIEWAA ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 85734331111 COMPUTER MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-02 SUE CMP-2209383 COMPUTER0 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEWAA ADMINISTRATION1 SUE CMP-2209383-CV COMPUTER00 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-03 SUE CMP-2209383-99 COMPUTER000 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW-A ADMINISTRATION1 SUE CMP-2209383-A COMPUTER0000 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 PRODUCTION SUE CMP-2209383-B COMPUTER01 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW ADMINISTRATION1 SUE CMP-2209383-D COMPUTER0122 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-04 SUE CMP-2209383-DE COMPUTER01222 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-01 SUE CMP-2209383-F COMPUTER11 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-02 SUE CMP-2209383-G COMPUTER111 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-05 SUE CMP-2209383-M COMPUTER112 MCRON MILLENIA INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 PRODUCTION SUE CMP-2209383-V M 651 00 GE2 LMP-998376-HAL ACTIV A3TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE TUCSN ZZ00000110 GE1 LMP-998376-HAL LOST TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 ZZ00000130 KODK DC-35 INACT TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 ZZ00000150 GE LMP-998376-HAL FIRST TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 ZZ00000170 HP 870-CXI STORE TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 ZZ00000190 MCRON MILLENIA SCRAP TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 ZZ00000210 GE1 LMP-998376-HAL LOST TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SUNVL ZZ00000230 KODK DC-35 INACT TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SFRAN ZZ00000250 GE LMP-998376-HAL FIRST TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SUNVL ZZ00000270 HP 870-CXI STORE TUCSN FAIRVIEW ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SFRAN ZZ00000290 MCRON MILLENIA SCRAP TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SUNVL ZZ00000310 GE1 LMP-998376-HAL LOST TUCSN FAIRVIEW-A ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SFRAN ZZ00000330 KODK DC-35 INACT TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 TUCSN ZZ00000350 GE LMP-998376-HAL FIRST AATUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SFRAN ZZ00000370 HP 870-CXI STORE TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SWFLA ZZ00000390 MCRON MILLENIA SCRAP TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SFRAN ZZ00000410 GE1 LMP-998376-HAL LOST TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-02 SUE 123456789 SWFLA ZZ00000430 KODK DC-35 INACT TUCSN FAIRVIEW2 CUBBY-03 SUE 123456789 SUNVL ZZ00000450 GE LMP-998376-HAL FIRST TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SFRAN ZZ00000470 HP 870-CXI STORE TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SUNVL ZZ00000490 MCRON MILLENIA SCRAP TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 SUNVL ZZ00000510 GE1 LMP-998376-HAL LOST JCBFA IR ADMN SUE 123456789 ZZ00000530 KODK DC-35 INACT A1TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 ZZ00000550 GE LMP-998376-HAL FIRST TUC FAIR ADMINISTRATION1 SUE 123456789 ZZ00000570 HP 870-CXI STORE SUECD O COMPUT E SUE 123456789 ZZ00000590 MCRON MILLENIA SCRAP MSHFA IR ADMN SUE 123456789 ZZ00000591 MCRON MILLENIA SCRAP MSHFA IR ADMN SUE 123456789Records included on report: 41 Records skipped: 104
Most OpenMETRIC PLB’s
include data from more than one table and are organized to simplify and
expedite the entry, retrieval, use, and distribution of OpenMETRIC
information.
PLB’s in Tracking, for
example, are particularly useful in monitoring and managing Work in
Process.
By allowing the cursor to
rest on a PLB button for a moment (typically ½ second, but this duration
can be altered as a mouse configuration variable), OpenMETRIC displays a
“tool tip” with the name of the PLB which will be displayed if the
button is clicked.
WonderWriter
REPORTS:
WonderWriter is a powerful,
menu-driven, user-friendly report generator which is available for
OpenMETRIC. WonderWriter
requires a minimum of training and is intended for use by non-technical
users.
Typical WonderWriter reports
can be defined in 5-10 minutes. The
definitions are saved and may be reused.
When WonderWriter reports
are executed, filters may be specified for any data element included in
the report definition (whether displayed or not).
These filters are retained and may be reused in future executions
of the report. Alternatively,
the filters may be retrieved and revised if necessary.
When WonderWriter reports
are executed, you can request that merely a sample of the report be
generated, that records counts be automatically generated and printed,
that statistics be computed and printed for each break, and that a summary
only be printed.
There are 17 WonderWriter
reports which are included automatically with OpenMETRIC.
Most of these reports are intended for use by the Application
Administrator, Database Administrator, or System Administrator of
OpenMETRIC.
The included WonderWriter
reports are as follows:
COMMENT_FILES WonderWriter File ESIGNLOG Electronic Signature Log GATEFUNC Gate Functions OMETFILES All OpenMetric Files REFERENC Reference Listing REFERENC2 Reference Controls REFERENC3 Reference Unformatted REFRHELP Reference Help SCNFLDS Screen Fields for Field Security SYSTEMS ITEMS THAT ARE SYSTEMS WWFILES Ometric Files WWFLDFILEALPH WonderWriter Field by File Alpha WWFLDFILEPOS WonderWriter Field by File Position WWFLDSHORT WonderWriter Fields (Shortname Alpha) WWFLDSHORT_FILE WonderWriter Fields (Shortname by File) WWGATEESIG Electronic Signatures on Gates WWKEYSTO WonderWriter Keys for File Joining
EXAMPLE:
An example of the WWFILES report is displayed below (page 3 of a 5-page report)
WWFILES(WR) WonderWriter Reporting System Page.... 3 29-SEP-2001 12:04 Ometric Files Administrato---------------------------- S E L E C T I O N --------------------------------- Including all records from WWFILES --------------------------------------------------------------------------------FILE DESC ==================== ============================== = = =OFOLHOLD Other Followup Hold C OSYMHIST Other Symptom History C OSYMHOLD Other Symptom Hold C PACTHIST PM Action History C PACTHOLD PM Action Hold C PARTHIST Parts History C PARTHOLD Parts Hold C PCOMHIST PM Comment History C PCOMHOLD PM Comment Hold C PFOLHIST PM Followup History C PFOLHOLD PM Followup Hold C PKDISPOS Protrak Disposition PKDISPOS2 Protrak Disposition History PKDOCMTS Protrak Documents PKDOCMTS2 Protrak Documents History PKHAZARD Protrak Hazard PKHAZARD2 Protrak Hazard History PKITEM Protrak Item PKITEM2 Protrak Item History PKREMARK Protrack Remark C PKREMARK2 Protrak Remark History C PRNTSET Report/User Print Settings N PROCALRT Procedure Alert File PROCALRT2 History Procedure Alerts PROCCOMT Procedure Comment C PROCCOMT2 Procedure Comment History Log C PROCEDUR Procedure Master PROCEDUR2 Procedure Master History Log PRTSHIST Parts Detail History PRTSHOLD Parts Detail Hold PSYMHIST PM Symptom History C PSYMHOLD PM Symptom Hold C RACTHIST Repair Action History C RACTHOLD Repair Action Hold C RCOMHIST Repair Comment History C RCOMHOLD Repair Comment Hold C RDCOHIST Readings Comment History C RDCOHOLD Readings Comment Hold C
ON-LINE
REPORTS:
There are approximately 53
reports available from the Reports subsystem of OpenMETRIC.
Each report provides a data specification screen into which filters
may be optionally entered.
The following WonderWriter
report displays the list of OpenMETRIC on-line reports.
RPT(WR) WonderWriter Reporting System Page.... 1 29-SEP-2001 12:38 RPT Administrato--------------------------------------- S E L E C T I O N -------------------------------------------- Including all records from REPORTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROGRAM ID DESCRIPTION ==================== ================================================================================RPT_CLASS_MST Setup: Class Master Rpt_MFR_MST Setup: Manufacturer Master Rpt_CATG_MST Setup: Category Master Rpt_LOC_MST Setup: Location Master Rpt_CUST_MST Setup: Customer Master Rpt_VEND_MST Setup: Vendor Master Rpt_EMPL_MST Setup: Employee Master Rpt_ITEM_MST Setup: Item Master RPT_ITEM_CATG Setup: Item By Category Rpt_ITEM_CUST Setup: Item By Customer Rpt_ITEM_TST_STA Setup: Test Station Rpt_PROC_MST Setup: Procedure Master Rpt_DSHT_MST Setup: Datasheet Master Rpt_GATE Setup: Gate Rpt_GATE_AUTH Setup: Gate Authorization Rpt_GATE_GRP Setup: Gate Groups Rpt_REFERENC Setup: Reference Rpt_JO_TRVLR Servicing: Traveler Rpt_Req_Tmplt_Trvlr Servicing: Template Traveler Rpt_JO_SHIP_TRVLR Servicing: Shipping Traveler Rpt_RECALL_CUST Servicing: Recall by Customer Rpt_RECALL_CUST_DT Servicing: Recall By Customer (Date order) Rpt_RECALL_LAB Servicing: Recall by Lab Rpt_DELQ Servicing: Delinquent Rpt_ITEM_STKR Servicing: Item Sticker Rpt_BKLOG_TECH Servicing: Backlog by Tech Rpt_BKLOG_LAB Servicing: Backlog by Lab Rpt_BKLOG_CUST Servicing: Backlog by Customer Rpt_BKLOG_VEND Servicing: Backlog by Vendor Rpt_BKLOG_STATUS Servicing: Backlog by Status Rpt_PLANR_TECH Servicing: Planner by Tech Rpt_PLANR_LAB Servicing: Planner by Lab Rpt_PLANR_CUST Servicing: Planner by Customer Rpt_CAL_CERT Calibration: Certification Rpt_CAL_OOT Calibration: Out of Tolerance Rpt_CAL_USER_NOTIF Calibration: User Notification Rpt_CAL_STKR Calibration: Cal Sticker Rpt_IMPACT Calibration: Impact (Reverse Traceability) Rpt_PEDIGREE Calibration: Pedigree (Forward Traceability) Rpt_VEND_AUTH Vendor Servicing: Authorized Vendors Rpt_VEND_SCHED_AUDIT Vendor Servicing: Scheduled Audits Rpt_PARTS_VEND Parts: Awaiting Parts By Vendor Rpt_PARTS_ITEM Parts: Awaiting Parts By Item Rpt_PARTS_HIST Parts: Parts History Rpt_REL_INDX_CUST Analysis & History: Reliability Index by Customer Rpt_REL_INDX_CATG Analysis & History: Reliability Index by Category Rpt_REL_INDX_LAB Analysis & History Reliability Index by Lab Rpt_DONE_TECH Analysis & History: Done by Tech Rpt_DONE_VEND Analysis & History: Done by Vendor Rpt_DONE_LAB Analysis & History: Done by Lab Rpt_DONE_CUST Analysis & History: Done by Customer Rpt_TRK_STAT_ANAL Analysis & History: Track Status Analysis Rpt_Trak_Multi_Tag Analysis & History: Track w/Multi TagWonderWriter Report is complete.
Recall
reports list equipment which is due for calibration between specified
dates. Planner
reports identify the predicted technician workload over a specified period
of time, assuming that all equipment arrives when it is currently due and
retains the same interval which it currently has.
Backlog reports
identify jobs currently in process. Done
reports identify completed jobs.
When a canned report is
selected from the Reports subsystem and the Print button is hit, the
Report Data Specification window is displayed.
This window will allow filter data, appropriate for the specific
report, to be entered. The
user is then allowed to hit either the Print Setup, Print, Write File, or
Exit button. If the Print
button is selected, the report will be automatically passed to the
specified Word Processor, typically Microsoft Word.
[WonderWriter
reports and Exported PLB’s do not offer the “Write to File” option.
Instead they automatically launch the word processor.
From the word processor, however, the report can obviously be saved
to a file, if necessary. Additionally,
the WonderWriter reports and Exported PLB’s do not offer the Print Setup
feature.]
From the
fully-functional evaluation copy of OpenMETRIC and sample data, each of
the On-Line Reports may be selected, filtered, and generated.
EXAMPLE:
The following selection
screen is displayed for the Impact (Reverse Traceability) report.
The Impact report
for Item 111 in our sample data looks as follows:
Diversified Data Systems, Inc. Your Organization's Name Administrato Page 1 OpenMETRIC: Rpt_IMPACT IMPACT (Reverse Traceability) Report 09/29/2001 13:13:16.96----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Standard: 111 Cal Date Range: 00/00/0000 Thru 99/99/9999 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Std Item 111 Due Dt 06/28/2000 Own Cust Nomenclature LAMP, HALOGEN, DESKX Cal'd Dt 12/16/1999 Status ACTIV Use Cust Mfr/Model GE2 LMP-998376-HAL Sys Dt/Time 12/16/1999 14:31 Std Y Size & Range Serial No 8855Item ID Nomenclature / Mfr & Model Serial/Size & Range Own / Use Std Used Cal'd/Due Session Sys Dt/Tm ========================== ========================== ==================== ========== ========== ========== ================= 1 PHONE, W/CALLER ID SERIAL12345678901234 SUE 01/05/2000 01/05/2000 01/05/2000 18:32 GE PH-45313-ID VERY LARGE AND FAR SUE1 PHONE, W/CALLER ID SERIAL12345678901234 SUE 01/05/2000 01/05/2000 01/05/2000 18:34 GE PH-45313-ID VERY LARGE AND FAR SUEReport Complete
BATCH
REPORTS:
There are three reports
which have been adapted to execute unattended in batch mode.
These reports are driven by rules which are specified in the
Reference table. These
reports are typically set up by the system administrator to execute
automatically in the middle of the night on a specific day of the week or
month.
The Batch
Recall report will generate recall notices for either Owning or Using
Customers. The report is then
sorted by the email address for the customer contact and automatically
emailed to each customer.
The Batch
Delinquent report will generate delinquency reports for either Owning
or Using Customers. The
report is then sorted by the email address for the customer contact and
the appropriate “escalation” contact and automatically emailed.
Based on an entry in
the Reference table, the Batch
Template Traveler report is automatically generated by the Batch
Job Open function for each item which appears on the Batch Recall
report.
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Can reports be generated and distributed to a screen, a file, a printer, an e-mail address, and internet media? |
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Yes, the
technology utilized by OpenMETRIC enables the user to direct each
exported PLB, WonderWriter report, or On-line Report to a screen,
a file, a printer, an email, or internet media. |
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Can different types of mailing be defined?
Can different followup actions be automated and defined?
Please explain |
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We are not completely
clear about the meaning or intent of “type of mailing.”
However, OpenMETRIC integrates numerous emailing features to
improve efficiency and productivity.
For each Customer,
you can specify an unlimited number of Contacts.
For each contact, you can specify an email address in addition to a
title, an address, a phone number, a fax number, etc.
On the Customer tab,
there is an Email button beside the Customer number.
Hitting this button will display the “Contacts for xxxxxx” PLB,
from which the desired contact can be selected.
Then OpenMETRIC will automatically launch the email program,
preloading the email address of the selected contact into the TO: field
“Urgent_-_Please_respond_A.S.A.P.”
into the Subject field. You
can then easily and quickly jot an appropriate note to the customer
contact.
We
recommend that such emails then be attached to the Customer record for
future reference.
On the Item tab,
there are Email buttons beside the Owning and the Using Customer fields.
Hitting one of these buttons will display the “Contacts for
xxxxxx” PLB, from which the desired contact can be selected.
Then OpenMETRIC will automatically launch the email program,
preloading the email address for the selected contact into the TO: field
and preloading the selected Item number (the item displayed on the Item
screen) into the Subject field (“Re_Item_xxxxxxx”).
You can then easily and quickly jot an appropriate note to the
customer contact about the specific item.
We recommend that
such emails then be “attached” to either the Item record or the
Customer record or both for future reference.
On the Tracking tab,
there are Email buttons beside the Owning and the Using Customer fields.
Hitting one of these buttons will display the “”Contacts for
xxxxx” PLB, from which the desired contact can be selected.
Then OpenMETRIC will automatically launch the email program,
preloading the email address for the selected contact into the TO: field
and preloading the selected Item number (the item displayed on the
Tracking screen) into the Subject field (“Re_Servicing_of_Item_xxxxxx”).
You can then easily and quickly jot an appropriate note to the
customer contact about the item being serviced.
We recommend that
such emails be attached to the Tracking record, the Item record, the
Customer record, or all three records, for future reference.
There are three
different reports that automatically launch the email program to send
reports electronically to customers.
As explained in the immediately preceding answer, the Batch Recall
and the Batch Delinquency reports automatically send appropriate reports
to the email address of the appropriate Customer Contact(s).
Finally, the on-line
User Notification Report in the Report subsystem will allow the Out of
Tolerance Notification Report to be sent electronically to the Customer
Contact at the touch of a button. After
selecting the User Notification report, the Report Data Specification
window includes an Email button in addition to the normal four buttons
(Print Setup, Write File, Print, Exit). Hitting the Email button will
display the “”Contacts for xxxxx” PLB, from which the desired
contact can be selected. Then
OpenMETRIC will do the following:
1.
Automatically launch the email program;
2.
Preload the email address for the selected contact into the TO:
field;
3.
Preload “User Notification
of Out of Tolerance Readings” into the Subject field;
4.
Generate the Out of Tolerance Notification report (see example
below);
5.
Preload the Out of Tolerance Notification report as an attachment;
and
6.
Preload “The User Notification of Out of Tolerance Readings
Report is attached.” into the body of the email.
You merely hit the
SEND button to deliver the Out of Tolerance Notification to the Customer.
We recommend that
such emails be attached to the Tracking record, the Item record, the
Customer record, the Calibration record, or all four records, for future
reference.
EXAMPLE:
The following is an
example of a User Notification Report which is generated and emailed
automatically by OpenMETRIC.
Out of Tolerance Notification Issued By: Your Organization's Name BBQ SWFLAUsing Customer: SUE SUE'S MANUFACTURING____________________________________________________________________________IDENTIFICATIONItem: 1112 Job #: 0000000039 Nomenclature: LAMP, HALOGEN, DESKX Date Cal'd: 05/03/2001 Size & Range: VERY LARGE AND FAR Date Due: 04/05/2002 Mfr/Model No: GE2 LMP-998376-HAL Serial No: 9234 ____________________________________________________________________________CONDITION OF ITEMAs Found: Out of Toler As Left: Functional Test ____________________________________________________________________________COMMENTS____________________________________________________________________________Performed By: Approved By: Administrato 09/29/2001 ____________________________________________________________________________Out of Tolerance ReadingsItem: 1112 Job #: 0000000039 Nomenclature: LAMP, HALOGEN, DESKX Date Cal'd: 05/03/2001STEP FUNCTION TEST NOM VALUE LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT ---- ---------------------------------------- --------------- -------------------- -------------------- 100 1 1 1 200v 2 2 2 300m 3 4 6
NOTE:
Since OpenMETRIC launches the user’s normal email program, the
Name and Address book normally available for emailing is also available to
the user for emails launched by OpenMETRIC.
Additional copies may be sent as required, by adding names to the
CC: or BCC: fields.
If
the user follows our recommendations regarding the attachment of emails to
appropriate OpenMETRIC records, it would be quite simple for the User to
generate a WonderWriter report of such attachments.
This would also make it relatively simple to manage “closed
loop” reporting requirements for such things as OOT conditions, since a
WonderWriter report could identify any calibration that generated an OOT
notification and had not yet received a response from the customer.
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How does your system accommodate maintaining and tracking of individual training proficiency and records? |
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OpenMETRIC allows
attachments to be made to the Employee record for each technician.
The list of current attachments is displayed when the
Attach button is hit. A
new attachment can be added by hitting the Add/Edit.
The attachments can be easily scanned and understood if
appropriate Descriptions are entered for each attachment. |
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3.6 |
How are services tracked that do not apply to a specific item, i.e. engineering support, writing procedures, etc? |
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We suggest the
creation of a “dummy” item in the Item Master table (or
perhaps several). This
permits opening a job, tracking the job, collecting hours, and
charging the job using the “dummy” number.
The “dummy” number should be given a status to avoid
recall, a location that does not create physical inventory errors,
and customers (Owning and Using) that do not create confusion with
real items. |
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How is labor tracked? |
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Labor is entered into the
Labor Subsystem on the screen depicted below.
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For the sake of convenience
and productivity, the previously entered technician ID is defaulted into
the Tech field, the technician’s name is defaulted into the name field,
and the current date is defaulted into the current date field.
(These defaults can be disabled by an entry in the Reference
table).
The tech can specify
the item on which he’s working, the Labor Charge numbers and code, the
Job Charge Number(s), the Job Number (defaulted after Item is selected),
the type of labor (Cal, Repair, PM, Other, None), the number of hours, and
descriptions or comments.
The By Tech button in
the Find box displays the following convenient “time sheet” for the
tech, showing all selected labor (Current Jobs, Closed Jobs, All Jobs)
during a specified time period.
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If the selected time period is a week or a month, the Total hours reflects the total labor hours reported to OpenMETRIC for the period.
The By Item button in
the Find box displays the total labor recorded against a specific item, by
all technicians, showing all selected labor (Current Jobs, Closed Jobs,
All Jobs) during a given time period.
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Note that both of these
labor screens may be exported, if desired.
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Can charges and billing be captured and
generated into client reports? Broken down by parts, labor, and
vendor services? |
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OpenMETRIC provides
comprehensive support for capturing charges and billing.
There are two primary methodologies for generating charges:
Automatic Charges and Specified Charges.
AUTOMATIC
CHARGES:
Predefined automatic
charges can be predefined at 4 different levels.
Charges can be defined for a Category (Manufacturer and Model), for
an Item, for a Customer, and/or for an Employee.
Charges defined for a
Category might correspond to a standard price sheet for services.
Charges defined for an
individual Item might correspond to unique prices for an item requiring
unique services, either more costly than normal or less costly than
normal.
Charges defined for a
Customer might correspond to special rates negotiated with a specific user
or customer based on unusually large or unusually small volumes or special
requirements for documentation or some other service requirement
difference.
Charges defined for an
Employee might correspond to special rates based on unique training or
unique equipment used to perform services.
Predefined charges,
whether associated with a Category, with an Item, with a Customer, or with
an Employee, are entered the same way.
At the bottom of the corresponding screen, the Charges button in
the “More…” box will display the following screen (the following
example is taken from the Category screen).
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The Charge Rates screen
allows you to specify the charges for Cal, for Repair, for PM, for Other,
and for Parts.
For Cal charges, you can
specify either Fixed charges or an Hourly Rate.
For Fixed charges, you can specify the rate including Data and the
rate without Data.
For PM charges, you can
specify either Fixed charges or an Hourly Rate.
For Fixed charges, you can specify the rate for a Level 1, a Level
2 and a Level 3 PM. These
might correspond to a monthly, a semi-annual, and an annual PM or some
other appropriate stratification of PM effort.
For Repair and for Other
charges, you can specify an Hourly Rate.
For Parts, you can specify
whether or not Parts are to be included in the automatic charges.
When a new job is opened,
the Job Charges are specified. The
Job Charges may be selected from any of the 4 predefined charges
(Category, Item, Customer, or Employee).
If none of the predefined charges are appropriate, or none of the
predefined rates have been entered, the rates may be entered “from
scratch” for the Job Charges. If
one of the predefined rates is selected, it is still possible to modify or
revise the actual Job Charges.
When the job is closed,
automatic charges will be computed and added to the Charges table, based
on the Job Charges that have been selected or defined.
Charges for Parts, if
specified to be automatically charged, are entered in the Parts subsystem.
Charges for Vendor services
are entered in the Vendor subsystem and are included automatically in the
Charges table when the job is closed.
SPECIFIED CHARGES:
In addition to the charges
that are generated automatically based on the Job Charge Rates, it is
possible to add any number of additional explicit charges using the
Charges subsystem.
As depicted below, the first
step in entering an explicit charge is to identify the Job Number or the
Item Number to which the charge will be associated.
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Typically, the Job Number is
entered or selected and the Item information is automatically displayed
for verification. It is also
possible to find the Job by displaying the “Items in Tracking” PLB,
which includes the Job Numbers, and then returning to the Job Number PLB.
It is also possible to enter
extensive comments to describe or explain the explicit charges.
After the “cover page”
has been entered or selected, identifying the job to which the charges
will be associated, you can add specific charges by hitting the Charges
button. This will display the
“Charges for xxxxxx” PLB as depicted below.
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This PLB displays a summary of any charges that have already been entered for this job, together with computed totals for hours and for charges.
To add a new explicit
charge, hit the Add/Edit button to display the following screen.
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The screen initially
displays the details for the charge selected on the previous PLB. To
enter a new charge, hit the Clear, enter the charge information, and then
hit the Add button.
Detailed charge information
includes the Date, the Employee number (which automatically fetches and
displays the name), the Charge number, a Description, the Item number, the
Item Nomenclature (automatically fetched and displayed based on the
selected Item number), the Hours (optional), the Hourly Rate (optional) or
the charge Amount (computed if Hours and Rate are entered or entered
directly). Finally, the Type
of Service is selected (Cal, Repair, PM, or Other).
Specified Charges entered
into the Charges subsystem will be added to the Charges table when the job
is closed, together with any automatically generated charges.
CHARGES TABLE:
The Charges table
accumulates the automatic and the explicit charges for each job.
These charges are typically forwarded electronically to the
appropriate corporate accounting system for charging or billing.
The charges can be easily displayed by a WonderWriter report.
ITEM RECAP:
In addition to the charging
and billing activity, OpenMETRIC automatically maintains a summary of the
hours and charges accumulated for each item on the Item Recap screen as
depicted below.
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This convenient summary of
hours and charges is broken down into types of service (Cal, Repair, PM,
and Other). The charges are
broken down into Labor, Parts, Vendor and Other.
In addition, the total Annual Cost and Ratio of Repair Costs to
Acquisition Costs is computed and displayed.
All of the information on
the Item Recap screen is maintained on the Item Master and can be
retrieved, displayed, or extracted by WonderWriter or other tools.
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3.9 |
Can special projects be established and tracked, i.e. capital builds? |
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Yes. Special
Projects are typically managed by creating a “dummy” item
number and opening a job for the “dummy” item. |
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How is customer information supported? Can
equipment owners be defined for automated routing of scheduled
reports via e-mail? |
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Customers are defined in
the Customer subsystem. For
each Customer, an unlimited number of Contacts can be defined.
For each Contact, the title, address, phone number, fax number, and
email address can be defined.
The Customer definition is
depicted below.
For each Contact, the information is entered
and managed on the screen depicted below.
Note that the Contact email
address is used extensively throughout OpenMETRIC for automatically
generating email notes and reports.
The “Recall Notification
Escalation Level” is used to identify the hierarchy of contacts to whom
delinquency reports should be sent.
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How is an hourly charge rate accommodated? Can a default or “standard” hour duration be assigned to unique instruments (same model number)? |
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Hourly charge
rates are defined on the Charge Rates tables associated with
Categories (Manufacturer and Model), Items, Customers, and
Employees. Yes, a default or
“standard” hour duration can be defined for a Category.
In fact, not only can the Standard Hours be specified, but
the Expected Deviation can also be specified.
These “standard” values can also be specified for a
Class (group of Categories) and for a SubCategory.
These default values can be overridden for individual
Items. |
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Does the system include features to manage
work assignments, scheduling, prioritization, tracking, and
reporting of Item Status, Tracking Status, etc? |
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Yes.
OpenMETRIC includes extensive tools for capturing and managing Work
in Process.
Each job can be assigned
to an appropriate Servicing Facility, an appropriate Lab, and an
appropriate Workbench.
Each Job can be assigned
to a primary tech as well as to a calibration tech.
Priorities can be assigned
to jobs.
Open jobs (jobs in
Tracking) can be electronically reviewed and managed in numerous
convenient and productive ways.
The overview of each job is easily determined by the milestone ladder on the Tracking screen as depicted below.
For each job, you can see
at a glance when it was opened, to whom it has been assigned, when a cal
began, etc.
For a detailed record of
each and every time the Tracking Status has changed, the Track Status
Change Log provides the “blow by blow” of the job.
This can be used to account for turnaround time, where rules
determine which statuses are “on” and which statuses are “off” the
clock.
The Track Status Change
Log is an invaluable tool for analyzing workflow problems and bottlenecks,
defending the lab’s honor when customers complain of slow turnaround
time, and reviewing existing open jobs to determine or adjust priorities
and assignments.
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Can the system generate current and future workload projections? |
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Yes.
The Planner reports will forecast workloads, based on
current Due Dates, Standard Hours, and Expected Deviations.
The reports assume that each item will arrive for service
on its Due Date, that its interval will remain unchanged, and that
it will return for service on its subsequent Due Date(s). Labor requirements
are aggregated on the Planner reports for each month and both item
counts and labor hours are computed. Planner reports
are available for projecting workload by Tech, by Lab, and by
Customer.
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