20 Must-Know Questions About MAS Mobile Applications

Mobile applications are nothing new in the world of IBM Maximo. There have been several generations of mobile apps and technology as Maximo has evolved. Now, with the presence of IBM MAS Manage well established, the out-of-box Mobile applications are being looked at more closely. Customers have several commonly held requirements that they wish to understand are in place out of the box before they investigate the solutions further.

This article is based upon a series of actual questions from a client specific to the MAS Mobile applications.

 

 

 

#1 – Is there a “dashboard” for the users when they enter the mobile app(s)?

Yes, in the upper left corner is a drop down where each application has a listing of the relevant records (work orders, inspections, assets, etc.) for the individual user to focus on. There are also queries in a drop down for different lists of records.

 

 

 

 

 

#2 – Is there a “dashboard” for Supervisors?

Yes, there is a drop down in the Approvals application for those approving of and watching over work at hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#3 – Can a Mobile user view and search for work order records?

Yes, there are two ways to view and search for work order records. By using the queries drop-down at the top of the screen a user can see their assigned work or they can use the Search icon to the right of the screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4 – Can materials still be issued to a work order?

Yes, if materials are planned for the work order, they will appear in the mobile applications in a couple of places. You can find them under “My Schedule” and under “Materials & Tools”. Materials can also be selected even if unplanned.

 

 

 

 

#5 – Can the user record labor hours?

#6 – Can failure information be recorded?

#7 – Can failure details be reported?

Yes, labor hours, failure information, and failure details can all be recorded. In the Technician (My Schedule) application on the Actuals pane, these and other details can be captured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#8 – Can the User complete work order tasks?

Yes, each task can be seen and its status changed by the user.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#9 – Can the user record meter readings?

Yes, if there are defined meters for the Asset (or Location) the user can see and update meter readings directly on the work order. (The use of Inspection Forms is also an option for collecting meter readings.)

 

 

 

 

#10 – Can the User see work order long Descriptions?

Yes, once the work order record is open in the Mobile app, the Long Description is visible.

 

 

 

 

 

#11 – Can the user change the status of a work order?

Yes, by using the Status drop-down the user can change the status of the work order. This status drop-down is available in several places. If the User has been granted access to change status, then they can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#12 – Can the User add work logs to the work order?

Yes, the user can add work logs. They can be viewed, typed, or spoken on to the work order.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#13 – Can the User attach files like photos?

Yes, the user can attach files such as photos to the work order record if the file is on the mobile device (or available to it via a cloud storage location). The file is also sync’d back to the work order record on the MAS Manage server.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#14 – Can Inspection Forms be easily created?

Yes, Inspection Form templates are created in the new Inspection Form application in MAS Manage. (This is not a mobile application)

 

 

 

 

 

#15 – Are Inspection Forms fully integrated with the work management process?

Yes, as much as is desired. Inspection Forms can be related to Assets, Locations, Job Plans/Tasks, Route Stops, and Work Orders/Tasks.

Yes, “Inspection forms” can be used in an ad-hoc manner as well.

#16 – Can an Inspection Form have a wide range of questions?

#17 – Can questions/responses be conditional, based on previous answers?

#18 – Can photos and other files be uploaded to the form?

 

 

 

 

 

#19 – Can Inspection Forms be used for purposes other than “inspections”

Yes for all!

 

 

 

 

 

#20 – Can follow-up work orders be created from the Inspection Form?

Yes, automation scripts can be associated with the Inspection Form so that when the user completes the form they have the opportunity to invoke the script and records such as work orders, service requests, or any other action in the script will be run.

Conclusion

TRM has been assisting clients across industries during many different economic cycles to improve their business processes and maximizing the use of their EAM solution. The upgrade process from legacy Maximo to the IBM MAS solution allows for the opportunity to move from simple work tracking to a more comprehensive suite of work management and field data entry tools. TRM can quickly provide a quote for a cloud hosting approach for IBM MAS that meets the requirements of the business. Official pricing should be used for final decision making.

There are many advantages (not just financial) to the cloud that might not be apparent, so let us help you work through the details and develop a solution that benefits the business now and well into the future.