Top 10 2010 Technology Gifts

Below is the 2010 Technology Gift Guide from the Detroit Free Press. We hope it helps you find a gift for someone on your list, or one for yourself!

For the student: Livescribe Echo smartpenPrice: 

Price: $169.95

This incredibly smart pen records everything you write and hear. Using an infrared sensor in its tip and special dot-covered paper, it pairs the audio it records with exactly what you were writing at the time. So, if you turn back in your notebook to a set of bullet points from a past lecture, you can tell the pen to play back exactly the clip of audio it recorded while you were writing those bullet points. The pen also produces what the company calls pencasts, exporting a Flash movie file so you can view your notes and paired audio as a movie and share it with friends.

www.livescribe.com

 

For the future viral video star: Looxcie wearable camcorder
Price: $199
This camcorder rests on your ear and looks a lot like a Bluetooth headset. It pairs with your Android smartphone and it continuously records the last five hours of everything you see -- you'll never miss a chance to capture and post the latest viral video. When something happens that you want to post online, just hit a button on the Looxcie and it automatically clips the last 30 seconds. Then you can upload that clip from your smartphone to Facebook, YouTube or Twitter.
www.looxcie.com

For the über geek: TikTok iPod Nano watchband
Price: $25
Little did Apple know when it released the tiny and square iPod Nano this fall that it had also released a dream touchscreen watch for the geek in all of us. Lots of watchbands are out for the Nano to use its watch-face mode, but this is the best.
www.kickstarter.com

For the business-minded: Motorola Droid Pro
Price: $179.99 after $100 mail-in rebate from Verizon
The latest in Verizon's popular Droid line of Android-based smartphones is aimed directly at BlackBerry users who love their physical keyboards and corporate security features. Those features -- including remote data wipe and encryption -- are now bundled in the Droid Pro for Motorola, which also boasts all the power of Google's increasingly polished Android operating system.
www.verizonwireless.com

For the kind-hearted: Red Cross music gift card
Price: $25 per soldier
Sometimes the best gifts we can give are to people we've never even met. The American Red Cross offers the opportunity to sponsor one, two or four injured service members who will receive a $25 MP3 music gift card through your gift. The service members can then download music while they're recovering and relax to their favorite tunes.
redcross.org /gifts

For the bookworm: Amazon Kindle
Price: $139 for WiFi model; $189 for model with WiFi and 3G wireless access
There may be no hotter gift out there this holiday season than an e-reader. It's been a brisk year full of newcomers and price drops, but one device still reigns supreme: the Amazon Kindle. The new Kindle is incredibly light and its screen has 50% better contrast than any other e-ink display. Splurge for the 3G model; you never know when you'll need to download the latest best-seller.
www.amazon.com

For the busy housekeeper: Neato XV-11 vacuum
Price: $399
This isn't the first or most high-profile robot vacuum, but the Neato Robotics XV-11 is a clear winner. It uses laser-guided technology to map your rooms, cleaning deep into corners and easily moving from carpet to hardwood. It automatically detects doorways, making sure it finishes the entire room before it scoots on to the next. You can schedule it to vacuum every week or day at a certain time and when it's finished it automatically returns itself to its charging station to prepare for its next use.
www.neatorobotics.com

For the audiophile: Beats Solo HD headphones from Monster
Price: $229.95
For the music lover in your life, a pair of high-quality headphones is a wonderful gift. Too many of us don't know what we're missing by using the cheap headphones that come with music players. These stylish headphones are part of a high-end audio line from rap mogul Dr. Dre. The Solo HD headphones also pair well with the Apple iPhone to allow for hands-free calling, and with the playback control features of iPods.
www.beatsbydrdre.com

For the movie buff: Netflix subscription
Price: $7.99 per month
It's been a huge year for Netflix, which now boasts more than 16 million subscribers. A subscription to the video-streaming service is the centerpiece of any truly digital lifestyle. And just recently, Netflix added a subscription option for just streaming movies, so you don't have to get DVDs in the mail anymore. You can sponsor from one to 12 months of the service and have it sent in a nicely formatted e-mail to anyone on your holiday list. It's a must-have for anyone with an Apple iPad or gaming console.
www.netflix.com

Press Release Wednesday: 4th Edition

Here at the Advisor, the second Wednesday of the month is reserved for an installment series of Ashcom Press Release. We hope this keeps you in the loop of what's happening and what's new. Happy Reading!

Ashcom Technologies and MaintiMizer™ Help Hospitals Meet Joint Commission Accreditation Requirements

Ann Arbor, Michigan (November 15, 2010) – Meeting Joint Commission accreditation requirements is less time-consuming and more cost-effective for hospitals and health care organizations that use MaintiMizer™ as their computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

Timothy Good, president of Ashcom Technologies, Inc., explains how his company’s CMMS makes achieving and maintaining accreditation easier: “The Joint Commission standard on equipment maintenance seems straightforward: organizations are required to follow manufacturers’ recommendations for preventive maintenance. But when you consider the number of pieces of equipment a hospital has in its inventory, you see just how challenging it can be to establish and maintain a thorough preventive maintenance program. Our health care customers across the country—including the Mayo Clinic, Emerson Hospital, and the Mercy Hospitals—tell us that using MaintiMizer™’s inventory and preventive maintenance modules is key to their ability to cost-effectively manage these tasks and create the accurate documentation needed to meet Joint Commission standards.”

MaintiMizer™’s preventive maintenance module is designed to meet the same goal as the Joint Commission standards: making sure that equipment works properly when it is needed through regular maintenance in accordance with manufacturer/industry standards. Regular preventive maintenance extends equipment life by reducing machinery stress and wear, saving the facility time and money and—most importantly—saving the lives of patients. Contact Ashcom Technologies today to find out how MaintiMizer™ can help your healthcare organization meet Joint Commission accreditation requirements.

Case Study: 4th Edition

The first Wednesday of the month is reserve for case studies. We hope our case studies showcase how MaintiMizer™ can be the CMMS solution you are looking for!

YMCA of Metro Detroit Shapes Up | CMMS Software Case Study

Situation  

"Our buildings were falling down faster than we could fix them," said Ed Williams, Facility Maintenance Supervisor for the thirteen locations of the YMCA of Metro Detroit. "We didn't have complete facility maps or maintenance records. Our purchase orders were stored in notebooks. When maintenance staff left, we didn't know what units needed to be fixed and often had no idea where to find those units in the first place."
The results were predictable - cold swimming areas, overheated gymnasiums, dissatisfied members, and frustrated employees.   The search for a solution took Ed and his colleagues in two directions.
First, they considered completely outsourcing all facility maintenance functions. Although outsourcing would eliminate having to deal with maintenance issues directly, the cost was too high to justify the benefit.
Next, they investigated computerized maintenance management systems. They agreed that any system selected must meet three criteria: it must be cost-effective; it must be easy to use, even for staff members without computer skills; and it must be able to tie into the existing computer network, including the accounts payable and receivable systems.
After researching several systems, they discovered one that met all three requirements: the MaintiMizer™ from Ashcom Technologies of Ann Arbor, MI.  

Solution  

The MaintiMizer™ allows YMCA staff members to enter a maintenance work order directly and immediately into the system. At the beginning of their shifts and throughout the day, maintenance personnel log on to the system and retrieve work orders prioritized by importance. If a new part is needed, the system generates a purchase order that is forwarded electronically to a supervisor for immediate approval. Once the work is completed, maintenance personnel log back on to update the maintenance log for that unit.
The MaintiMizer™ also stores all related maintenance management information, including facility maps and equipment locations, preventive maintenance schedules, vendor lists, and parts lists.  
"Now," says Ed Williams, "purchase orders that used to take a week to be approved are resolved in a matter of minutes. We've also seen measurable cost savings by batch ordering parts for multiple facilities - recently we saved $200 on a single air filter order."

Over time, Ed and his colleagues expect to enjoy cost benefits from improved equipment performance and longer equipment life as a result of following a regular preventive maintenance schedule. They also expect a decrease in maintenance staff turnover and the associated costs of hiring and training.   The benefits resulting from satisfied members and staff are more difficult to measure, but are nonetheless there.
Says Ed Williams, "Using the MaintiMizer™ system has worked out well for everyone."    

Enjoy this article? Can't wait for next month's installment? Get a jump start and read future case studies yet to be featured in the Ashcom Advisor Case Study Series at: www.AshcomTech.com.

New! LED Light Bulbs

The push for more energy efficient lighting has been moving forward for quite some time now. Compact florescent bulbs are now common place in many homes, but the lighting industry isn't stopping there. LED bulbs are being introduced as general, task & overhead lighting unlike their earlier counterparts used mainly as spotlights. The newest LED bulbs to the market are combating the commonly used 60watt incandescent bulb. These new bulbs uses much less energy, have much longer life-spans and cast a warm-colored light that mimics incandescent lighting. Osram Sylvania will release their Ultra A-Line bulb at Lowes.com this month, and Philips' Ambient LED bulb is available at The Home Depot.

Read more about Sylvania's Ultra A-Line Bulb or about Philips'Ambient LED Bulb at CNet.com

Types of Maintenance Management Software

Manufacturing, service and facilities managers need to maintain the balance sheets between costs and profit in their businesses. Because so many of the processes in these types of companies is automated, a minute-by-minute tracking system needs to be in place and functioning at all times to ensure optimum operation capability.

Monitoring and maintaining the current and budgeted costs for their company's equipment, staff, stock and property is vital to business success. Also a priority? Ensuring that quality control and liability are protected during service or production to prevent expensive losses or customer dissatisfaction. Work orders: Scheduling jobs, assigning personnel, reserving materials, recording costs, and tracking relevant information such as the cause of the problem (if any), downtime involved (if any), and recommendations for future action to enhance productivity.

Maintenance Management Software is a necessary part of any facility or plant functionality. There are several different packages available that keep be used alone or coupled with other maintenance management software packages to maintain and optimize a business' processes.

Inventory Control: This particular CMMS package manages tools, spare parts, reservation of materials that are on hold for specific jobs, housing and location of all materials, purchase order requirements and tracking, shipping receipt tracking and counting of actual inventory.

Safety Monitoring: Tracking of all necessary documentation and regulations regarding safety during operations, from building codes, to equipment conditions and personnel safety procedure.

Asset Management: There is a specific need to record current data about all the equipment and the actual property itself. Knowing that warranties are up to date, when service contracts are in need of updating, the depreciation of spare parts, purchase date and expected lifetime of all equipment allow managers to assess the value of the business at current.

Preventative Maintenance: Regular inspections of equipment and jobs are necessary to maintain a handle on profits. Checklists are often employed to track this option, so staff knows when and how specific monitoring processes have to be performed. Many businesses use one of these maintenance management software packages for their facilities, but more often than not, they're employing a combination of each of these software packages to manage all aspects of their company and enhance their bottom line. Maintenance Management Software is helpful on many levels for business processes. In this article we look at four ways Computer Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) can help your business keep track of expenses and jobs through software packages.

By Ashley Combs

Magic Carpet? No, Magic Mat!

Are you dreading the coming winter? The cold, the snow, the ice? Tired of the neverending cycle snow shoveling and ice elimination, and the stress of the liability it poses?

Snow melting mats are a newer maintenance product helping you keep your walkways safe and helping to lighten the load of snow & ice removal. Snow melting mats are simply that, mats you place in stragetic locations on walkways or stairs, that have an electrical current that passes through them melting away the snow & ice. Such a great concept you could almost call them Magic Carpets, er, I mean Magic Mats!

Take a look at HeatTrak's website for more information about snow melting mats.



Ashcom Technologies does not endorse HeatTrak or it's products.

Ashcom Technologies Launches MaintiMizer BlackBox™: Computerized Maintenance Management To Go

Ann Arbor, Michigan (November 1, 2010) – Ashcom Technologies, Inc., announces the launch of MaintiMizer BlackBox™, a “plug and play” version of its popular MaintiMizer™ Web-based computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

Don’t let it’s small size fool you, MaintiMizer BlackBox™ takes up less space on your desk than a standard lunch box, but packs a powerful punch that is sure to get your maintenance costs under control, while improving quality, and increasing productivity. MaintiMizer BlackBox™ gives you options so no matter your situation, it will work for you. Choose to connect the self-contained unit to your network and/or to the internet via hard-wired Ethernet cable or wirelessly. The simplicity of the system eliminates the need to have an IT specialist on site, and if you need help, Ashcom’s technical support specialists are there for you! Implementing such a comprehensive solution has never been easier! MaintiMizer BlackBox™ comes with MaintiMizer™, Microsoft SQL Express, Web server pre-installed and pre-configured and features a redundant hard drive and built-in backup to a USB memory stick.

Timothy Good, president of Ashcom, explains the idea behind MaintiMizer BlackBox™; “We’ve spoken to many small and mid-sized organizations that have told us they’d like to use MaintiMizer™, but that they simply don’t have the staff available to install, configure, and maintain the system. MaintiMizer BlackBox™ eliminates that hurdle—anyone, no matter what their level of computer experience, can simply plug in this self-contained appliance and be off and running in minutes. And because we’ve built remote access into the system, our staff of maintenance management experts will handle all updates and any necessary troubleshooting. We’ve designed MaintiMizer BlackBox™ to be accessible and affordable ‘computerized maintenance management to go’ for companies of all sizes.”

MaintiMizer BlackBox™ has all the functionality of the MaintiMizer™ Web-based CMMS, including work order, preventive maintenance/equipment, inventory, vendor/purchase order, timecard, and utility modules. Each module opens to a “dashboard” screen, allowing users to see critical information at a glance. All MaintiMizer™ systems are designed to be easy to learn and easy to use, even for people with little or no computer experience.

Good concludes, “Every company, no matter what its size, needs to proactively manage its operations to save money and improve productivity, particularly in this economy. With MaintiMizer BlackBox™, any organization can enjoy the bottom-line benefits that come from using a CMMS.”

Furnace Maintenance and Care

Winter means hot cocoa, snow, piling the couch high with blankets, holiday lights, and-but of course, how can you have all of that comfortably without a well-heated home? And what does all the work for you then? Your furnace!

Whether your furnace is one year old or 10, annual maintenance is extremely important. Not only will keeping the furnace maintained properly ensure that it is in good working order, but it could also extend the life of your furnace by several years. But perhaps most importantly to you right now, a furnace in good working order will properly and thoroughly heat your home in the most efficient manner possible. That means a warm house for less money!

Some aspects of the furnace to keep maintained include the air filter (which should be changed following manufacturer instructions), burners, air ducts and thermostat. If you feel that you need help maintaining your furnace, or aren't sure what to do, then contact a local furnace maintenance company to do the work for you. The yellow pages are a good way to find such a company, but with the internet available these days, it may be best to search online so you can find reviews for the company before hiring them.

This article was originally published at http://ezinearticles.com, written by Angelica Thompson.

Organization with Computerized Maintenance Management Software

Are you tired of those maintenance work orders cluttering up your desk? Are you tired of those same work orders getting lost? Or, maybe you're tired of trying to keep accurate records by hand on maintenance procedures performed to the machinery? No matter what the case may be, if you need to add some organization to your maintenance department and possibly even simplify some of the processes, all while making the department more efficient, then computerized maintenance software is your answer.

The maintenance department is typically a very busy department within any company, and organization is the key to keeping the department and technically, the rest of the business running smoothly; therefore, special attention needs to be paid to this department. But, in the past, this seems to always be the department that gets overlooked; however, nowadays, technology has caught up and computerized maintenance programs are making lives easier and maintenance departments more efficient.

Does your maintenance department need help? If so, then contact a CMMS (computerized maintenance management software) vendor to learn more about this amazing technology that can prove to be very beneficial to any company. Learn how it can keep track of upcoming maintenance procedures or how it lets you schedule maintenance procedures during low production times. With this computerized maintenance software installed in your maintenance department, there will be no more unplanned downtime from necessary broken machinery causing your business to get behind and your losses to increase.

Any CMMS vendor that is serious about their product will provide you with a representative of their company to come into your company, install, and set up this program for you. This means that getting the program to work properly is their number one concern, because if it doesn't, it's not any good to you and they stand behind their product and their work. This is why they typically should also offer customer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They know you are not a computer wizard or a software geek, and so will provide you with a superior level of customer service in order to ensure you and your company great success with this software program.

By Ashley Combs

Sustainability: Not Such a Dirty Word

By Chris Matt, Managing Editor - Print & E-Media
Published at facilitiesnet.com

One way or another, sustainability becomes part of most conversations I have with facility professionals.

So when I posed what I thought was a rather harmless question to a manager recently, I didn't expect the reply that came from the other end of the phone line.

"Has your department implemented sustainability measures to improve the organization's environmental responsibility?" I asked, expecting the manager to discuss water conservation or other green initiatives increasingly common in commercial and institutional facilities.

"I absolutely hate that word," the manager shot back, ensuring I never will mention the "S" word — sustainability — to him again.

This manager is not the first to react negatively to discussions of sustainability. Some consider it a fad. Others think it is a marketing ploy companies use to sell products.

What is unique about his reaction, though, is this particular manager does buy into the concepts associated with sustainability. He just does not like the word sustainability because he believes it represents a trend, rather than describing smart business practices managers should have incorporated into their operations years ago.

I understand his point, and, in an ideal world, sustainable practices would have been top of mind for managers long before newspapers, magazines, and websites began reporting on their growing prevalence in commercial and institutional facilities. But he can be encouraged more facilities are making sustainability a higher priority — not because it is the latest, greatest trend but because managers recognize it makes good business sense.

When managers research and execute sustainable practices properly, they create more efficient, cost-effective operations. In that context, I will not hesitate to mention the "S" word next time I pick up the phone.

Chris Matt offers insights gleaned from conversations with managers who make key maintenance and engineering decisions in commercial and institutional facilities.

Making a CMMS Software System Work Over the Long Term

Compiled by FacilitiesNet Staff, original article published at http://www.facilitiesnet.com

In today’s maintenance environment, a CMMS software system — also known as a computerized maintenance management system — has become one of the most important tools to proactively manage maintenance and engineering operations. But making a CMMS software system work over the long term does come with some challenges.

Here are some of the common problems that can cause a CMMS software system to fail over the long term:

Data Problems Can Kill a CMMS Software System

Many departments do not adhere to — and in some cases, do not have — work flows or processes related to maintenance data. These processes are critical for ensuring that the CMMS software system captures necessary data and that users seamlessly integrate it into the daily activities.

The goal in implementing a CMMS software system is to make it easier to collect, enter and use the maintenance data. Managers must evaluate progress by discussing flows and processes with workers to determine if they understand or have even seen them.

Lack of Training Can Starve a CMMS Software System
One common problem area that leads to the deterioration of maintenance management data is a lack of system training for users. Unfortunately, too many managers feel that the best cost-saving measure is omitting system or user training.

While this strategy does reduce the up-front costs, the long-term impact can be dramatic. Many departments purchase and implement a new CMMS with the goal of finding the right user-friendly system when, in reality, user training on the existing system might have been more cost-effective.

It is equally critical to train users on the established work flows and processes. Users must be trained based on their interface requirements with maintenance activities and the CMMS.

Managers can enhance CMMS performance by identifying the maintenance and CMMS interface requirements for all software users at the site or facility and providing training based on those requirements.

Avoiding CMMS Access Problems
Managers must determine the way any user will use the CMMS. Anyone who identifies needed maintenance work should have some level of access to the CMMS. Building occupants should have access to the system to document maintenance issues they identify at the facility. They must be trained on the correct procedures for using the established workflow or process.

Next, anyone who performs maintenance should have access. These individuals are the true users of the system. A CMMS will succeed and generate meaningful data only when these individuals enter pertinent failure, cause and action codes through work orders they complete. Reinforcing the use of work flows and processes at this level ensures the system contains information to generate maintenance management data.

Finally, all who must make informed maintenance management decisions should have access to the system, and they must receive training on how to efficiently use the system to analyze information. These individuals are the true users of the information within the CMMS.

As one can clearly see, if building occupants have no training on how to properly input requests, maintenance workers might not have the necessary means to document their results. As a result, those who must make informed decisions will have no maintenance management data available.

Source:
CMMS Solution: Build on the Basics by Michael Santangelo

Organization with Computerized Maintenance Management Software

Are you tired of those maintenance work orders cluttering up your desk? Are you tired of those same work orders getting lost? Or, maybe you're tired of trying to keep accurate records by hand on maintenance procedures performed to the machinery? No matter what the case may be, if you need to add some organization to your maintenance department and possibly even simplify some of the processes, all while making the department more efficient, then computerized maintenance software is your answer.

The maintenance department is typically a very busy department within any company, and organization is the key to keeping the department and technically, the rest of the business running smoothly; therefore, special attention needs to be paid to this department. But, in the past, this seems to always be the department that gets overlooked; however, nowadays, technology has caught up and computerized maintenance programs are making lives easier and maintenance departments more efficient.

Does your maintenance department need help? If so, then contact a CMMS (computerized maintenance management software) vendor to learn more about this amazing technology that can prove to be very beneficial to any company. Learn how it can keep track of upcoming maintenance procedures or how it lets you schedule maintenance procedures during low production times. With this computerized maintenance software installed in your maintenance department, there will be no more unplanned downtime from necessary broken machinery causing your business to get behind and your losses to increase.

Any CMMS vendor that is serious about their product will provide you with a representative of their company to come into your company, install, and set up this program for you. This means that getting the program to work properly is their number one concern, because if it doesn't, it's not any good to you and they stand behind their product and their work. This is why they typically should also offer customer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They know you are not a computer wizard or a software geek, and so will provide you with a superior level of customer service in order to ensure you and your company great success with this software program.

By Ashley Combs

For more information about CMMS solutions go to AshcomTech.com.

Los Alamos National Laboratory has been working on technology to better secure liquids brought onto airplanes. The Magnetic Vision Bottled Liquid Scanner (MagViz BLS) uses magnetic resonance technology to determine if the  molecular structure of a given liquid/gel has explosive properties. The equipment is about the size of a dorm-room refrigerator. The container is placed inside the box, behind closed door, and within 15 seconds either a red or green light on top of the box lights up indicating whether or not the liquid inside poses a threat.

It will still be sometime before a device like this is rolled out nation-wide but I think this technology shows the great strides forward we are making in airline security.

For more information please check out LANL's website or read Susan Montoya Bryan's article in The Washington Post.

Press Release Wednesday: 3rd Edition

Here at the Advisor, the second Wednesday of the month is reserved for an installment series of Ashcom Press Release. We hope this keeps you in the loop of what's happening and what's new. Happy Reading!

U.S. Department of Defense

The U.S. Department of Defense selected MaintiMizer™ Web to manage the facilities infrastructure at its airbase near Balad, Iraq. The Department of Defense is the latest organization to choose MaintiMizer™ Web, Ashcom’s award-winning Web-based computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). In addition, Ashcom will provide extensive implementation assistance, including extended on-site training, coaching and mentoring, and live product support.

“It is a privilege for us to be able to support the men and women of our armed forces,” states Timothy Good, president of Ashcom Technologies. “We’re pleased that the Department of Defense considers MaintiMizer™ Web to be the kind of reliable, robust system it needs to proactively maintain its critical facilities, inventory, and supplies at the highest possible level of readiness. We also welcome the opportunity to work with the Department of Defense as a full-service solution provider as we host the system from our corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor and provide the expertise of one of our maintenance management professionals on-site in Iraq.”

Can't get enough? Check out Ashcomtech.com for more press releases!

Microsoft Reveals a New Line of Smart Phones

Competing for more market-share in the mobile industry, Microsoft announced that they will roll out a line of smartphones in November available though AT&T & T-Mobile (adding more carriers early next year). The line of phones named Windows Phone 7, are aiming to distinguish themselves from the current smartphone heavy hitters (Apple's iPhone, Research in Motion’s Blackberry, & Google's Android) by offering a unique product that is significantly different from what's available today.

Windows Phone 7 will be using some of  the same technology from their last smartphone trial the Kin, (which lasted only 48 days on the market) along with faster processors, & a better camera. The phone is heavily aimed at gamers, offering a version of XBox Live, Microsoft's flagship gaming platform, along with an extensive list of popular games which will allow users to sync with other phones or PC's to play. The phones will also include a mobile version of Internet Explorer and support for editing Windows Office documents.

Windows Phone 7's are also distinguishing themselves from other smartphones by using a unique "Live Tile" interface. Your information is displayed & organized in "Tiles" that automatically update via the web. You will be able to see updates on your favorite games, favorite friend's Facebook pages, or simply your email or calendar to name a few. This new "tile" interface is what makes the Windows Phone 7 success questionable. Will third -party App developers embrace the new interface & design Apps that work with it? If we've learned anything  in the mobile phone industry it is that people love Apps, and your success is based on the quality of the Apps available for your phone.

If any company can turn their noses up at an accepted interface, create their very own and make it successful it's Microsoft, let hope this leap of faith is a good one, after all innovation is what makes the world go round!

For more information please check out Microsoft or the Detroit Free Press.

Google: Focusing in on Computerized Cars that Drive Themselves

In an effort to prevent traffic accidents, Google has been testing a new software that drives your car for you. It starts, stops, & steers on its own while a human sits behind the wheel "just in case". The software uses video camaras, radar & lasers to navigate & "see" other cars. The cars know speed limits, traffic patterns and area maps. The responce time is quicker than a humans, therefore reducing the number of accidents (in theory). The cars have been testing in California along mountinous and winding roads with little issue. Google CEO Eric Schmidt believes that had computers been created before the car, driving a car the way we know it would never have been. "Your car should drive itself. It just makes sense."

For a more indepth article please visit The Washington Post.

CMMS: A Cross-Functional Footprint

“Maintenance has gotten incredibly complex,” says Craig Miller, who spent 19 years at a large baking plant and was president of the users group of the MaintiMizer CMMS from Ashcom Technologies, Ann Arbor, Mich., before becoming that company’s sales and business development manager. Decades ago, he says, “All a maintenance manager had to worry about was getting the job done by the end of the day. Today, it’s all hands on deck.”

He says companies should start with their own regulations, standards and practices before diving into the software. “Say you’ve got a 50-ft.-long Teledyne Readco oven with brownies going through it. Your CMMS details the asset — the oven, combustion details, model number, serial number, what parts are on it ... what's been replaced, performance trends to analyzed. All your PMs [preventive maintenance] would be generated based on that information, with frequency and tasks defined by and based on standard operating procedures.

“The system can't just say ‘check conveyor.’ Well, check it for what? Because if an oven’s down in a bakery, you could lose days of production.”

There is a possibility that CMMS/EAM systems can become a cross-functional documentation across the plant. Management mandates to conserve budgets and information technology standards are factors that could hasten such integration.

It’s been my goal to get our users to realize there’s a bigger spectrum here,” says Ashcom Technologies’ Craig Miller. He says sanitation, quality, research, environmental, safety and other non-maintenance personnel all can use a single CMMS/EAM system and eliminate the duplication of efforts in multiple software systems. Consider how the maintenance system can bring together these people and practices:

• Food quality/safety: Work orders can be printed with accompanying SOPs, GMPs, HACCP procedures and more. “Quality and research can actually tie into the system. Maybe there are metal detectors or check-weighers they need to maintain and calibrate for their inspectors, and they need to know who worked on them last,” Miller says.
  
• CIP/Process sanitation: The sanitation department can share documentation such as CIP procedures, which can be hosted in the maintenance system. “I coach many customers on the use of CMMS for CIP. You’d be amazed how many sanitation departments don’t use anything to document this.” It’s a no-brainer to use the CMMS to track cleaning for assets already in the maintenance system, he says. Documentation, which can include images and material safety data sheets (MSDSs), improve safety in handling chemicals as well as complying with FDA regulations and other standards.
  
• Worker safety: When an unsafe platform in front of an oven is classified as part of the oven, the safety manger may write a note or a safety work order. But it lacks the depth that a CMMS/EAM system can bring to track the problem and priority and its cause. A recurring problem can be diagnosed for its root cause. That fix can be a particular operator that needs retraining or a flawed work process that needs to be revised.
  
• Security: The CMMS can track personnel from building and site entry to exit, including through hazardous area access, providing procedures and tracking locks and gates. RFID technology can be applied to personnel, materials and assets throughout the plant.
  
• Environmental: The CMMS can record the delivery of liquid ingredients into 2,500-gallon tanks, handling of 5,000-gallon grease traps, the movement of other materials per EPA Title V operating permits (also 40 CFR part 70), air emissions and effluent. Likewise, the system can manage MSDSs and reporting under SARA Title III/the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
  
• At the docks: While maintenance there is relatively low, plants still need to meet safety and cleanliness standards that the maintenance system can track, such as forklift maintenance, the use of food-grade grease when food contact is an issue, segregating food materials from cleaning chemicals and other documentation required by FDA regulations or standards such as those from AIB.
  
• Pest control: A grain manufacturer realized its CMMS could be a part of its AIB compliance when it numbered and tracked its 150 rat traps in the system. “They have to know where those traps are in the building, they can’t just put them out there and forget about them,” says Miller. A clipboard can be lost and it lacks the ability to easily track the traps and their contents.
  

This excerpt was originally published in Food Processing Magazine written by Bob Sperber.

Cell Phone Use...Coming to an Airline Near You!? Enter Phone Manners, Please!

Singapore Airlines has announced on Tuesday that it will soon offer wireless connections on chosen flights allowing passengers to text message, email and perhaps make actual cell phone calls. This announcement comes after a multi-million dollar collaboration with OnAir, a in-flight connectivity provider, which will offer WiFi and other services. The details are not ironed out yet but Singapore Airlines is planning to roll out the new services early next year once they have decided on what and how they will implement the new technology.

Singapore Airlines flies some of the longest flights in the world including the longest commercial flight from New York to Singapore, an 18.5 hour, 10,371-mile flight. Currently, Singapore is fielding customers to decide if and how they will offer cell phone use in flight. As you may imagine some are pleased to hear the latest development in fully "plugged-in" travel, while others are terrified of the possibility of having to listen to someone speaking too loudly the entirety of the journey. Many options Singapore is entertaining is having cell phone-zones, or conversely, quiet-zones on the plane to try to please as many passengers as possible.

Here are my thoughts:
I understand that a lot of really important business people travel, and travel a lot. I understand that there are split-second decisions that need to be made and often it is these travelers whom have to decide. I love technology and it's ability to keep people connected, what I don't have love for is the lack of manners when using said technology.

Have you ever been waiting in line at a store and watched as a customer made a purchase while on the phone the entire time? You watch the cashier as s/he helplessly tries to make eye contact or find the appropriate moment to give the customer their total or to ask a question.

Have you ever been out at a restaurant and someone sitting at your table whips out their phone to read a text, answer a text, or answer the phone? Do you wonder what is more important or more exciting than your conversation about *fill-in-the-blank*?

Have you ever been sitting in the dentists' quiet waiting room, and all of a sudden you are jolted out of the outdated magazine you're reading to hear all about Stacie's latest drama? Who is Stacie and why is the girl in the waiting room talking so loudly?

If you've never been put off by occurrences such as these maybe you should reevaluate your phone usage or maybe you are just lucky, you have more patience than most. But really, when did it become okay to minimize human interaction? When did a piece of plastic become more important than the people in the room with you?  I really have an issue with people who have no idea they are being rude by talking/texting/emailing from their phone. But recently I have become increasing irritated by those who know they are being rude and "apologize" for their behavior, but do not change their actions. Yes, emergencies happen. Yes, if you're brother calls from half-way around the world, excuse yourself and take the call. Yes, there are exceptions, but choose them wisely.

Our obsession with connectivity is inherently making humans connect far less. I can't tell you how many times I've walked through the grocery store and have seen a mother on her phone, ignoring her children (either contained in the cart, or running wild down the aisles). I grocery-shopped with my mother ever Saturday morning growing up and as trivial as the conversations may have been they built a relationship, and a strong one. I fear today's children are missing out on that and all because a piece of plastic and a distant voice or composer is more important.

Travel is stressful. Do we really want to add to that by making people more irritated because they have to listen to Mr. Big-Shot berate his new intern over the phone while in flight? No one on the flight will be able to escape it. I think the answer is instilling norms into our society about technology use in public...who's with me?

Here's my final vote: Cell phone use is inevitable on flights, I just hope that we can all be a little more conscientious and think about how our chats/texts effect the people around us.
Shhh....inside voices, please!

Read more about Singapore Airlines Cell Phone Calls on Flights .

Case Study: 3rd Edition

The first Wednesday of the month is reserve for case studies. We hope our case studies showcase how MaintiMizer™ can be the CMMS solution you are looking for!

Sutera Liner Picks MaintiMizer™
Kuala Lumpur - Forward-looking express bus company, Sutera Liner Sdn. Bhd. today announced the purchase of MaintiMizer™ CMMS to help modernize the company’s maintenance functions. The software will allow Sutera to plan, manage, and monitor all their maintenance-related activities at the company’s main depot in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur.

Sutera chairman, Haji Abd. Rahim Mohamad was confident of their decision to select the flagship product from Ashcom Technologies: “MaintiMizer™ will help the company monitor closely our maintenance records so the management can make informed decisions that can impact their operation financially. These records include vehicle breakdown, repair costs, manpower allocation, inventory management, and failure analysis.” Sutera Liner is one of the more profitable bus companies in Malaysia. The company operates more than fifty long-distance express buses that take passengers from Kuala Lumpur to the north, east, and south of peninsula Malaysia, and back.

Their fleet consists of modern buses made by MAN, Scania, Volvo, Dennis, and Hino. The implementation of MaintiMizer™ CMMS at Sutera was made possible by the support of PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd. as Sutera’s diesel and lubricant supplier. PETRONAS Dagangan is a listed company on the KL Stock Exchange. They are the leading marketer of petroleum products in Malaysia with more than 500 service stations throughout the country. PETRONAS Dagangan is a subsidiary of PETRONAS, a Fortune 500 integrated petroleum conglomerate.

MaintiMizer™ CMMS is a mature maintenance management system marketed and supported by Quadrant 2 Technologies Sdn. Bhd., a leading maintenance consulting company based in Subang Jaya, Selangor. The system was developed by Ashcom Technologies, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It has been in use in North America since 1986 with over 3000 satisfied customers in various maintenance environments including manufacturing, vehicle fleet operation, and building and facilities.

Want to learn more about how MaintiMizer™ can help your facility? Call us today at 800-366-0793. We look forward to hearing from you!

Easing Facility Management with CMMS Maintenance Software

Managing a facility is far from easy. There is a lot that needs to be done, so it's a rather involved process. When a facility is dependent on the life of its equipment, it's very important to make sure that breakdowns don't occur and downtimes are reduced to a minimum. Usually, it is the work of the maintenance department to take care of all these specifics, but there is only so much they can do on their own. Monitoring of a building, a plant or a factory is rather complex, but with a CMMS Maintenance System, it becomes much easier.

The job of a CMMS system is to monitor the working state of your equipment and your assets. This incorporates everything from tracking inspection, regular updates on the health of said assets, and recommendations for repairs and replacements that need to be made. Of course, these are not the only responsibilities that befall a CMMS Program, but they makes up a big percentage of it. In addition to these, with a CMMS Maintenance system your scheduling needs are taken care of, including assigning of personnel, tracking of work orders, recording inventory and so on. It simplifies the processes that people can do, and minimizes the time taken to do so.

CMMS Software is unspecific with the kinds of facilities that it can work in. While this partly depends on the nature of the software itself, such a program can be used in pretty much any organization that needs a hand. This could be a school, a manufacturing plant, an import facility, a hospital, and other companies. It is good to have your specific needs addressed in the first place, before you choose the CMMS software that you want. This will help you find the most appropriate CMMS software for your needs and budget.

Longer life is guaranteed for your assets with a CMMS Maintenance system, as it has clearly been established. Perhaps to appreciate the importance of having it around, one needs to visualize the problems culminated from not having it. Your company's assets will probably go for months on end without first showing fault. But with machinery, not seeing a problem does not mean its not there. Machines usually compound their problems, instead of highlighting them one at a time. Vibration intensities may increase, temperatures may increase, some parts may be growing ineffective and some may be breaking down. These are problems that need to be nipped at the bud, and this is made possible with a system that tracks them down. As you can conclude, embarking on repairs is much better than making replacements, financially speaking.

If you are looking to cut back on costs of maintenance in your facility to maximize on the profits realized, then a viable solution lies with a CMMS system. With the preventative maintenance tool, you are guaranteed that your equipments are assets will be long protected from breakdown. Coupled with the other tools that it comes with, you get a lasting solution that not only helps with managing a facility, but increases its overall productivity as well.

Ashley Combs

Ready to learn more? Check out AshcomTech.com to learn about MaintiMizer™, our CMMS Solution!

Personal Credit Card Machine

 

Ever tried to purchase something and realize credit cards aren't excepted and you don't have any cash? Ever have to lend a buddy cash because they didn't have any, and know you'd never see it again?

Whether you want to use credit cards at more places, or you want to accept credit cards yourself, check out Square. Square is a device that plugs into your i-Phone/i-Pad/i-Pod Touch/Android Phone head phone jack and allows you to accept credit cards as payment for whatever you can think of. The devise itself is free. You will be charged 2.75% + 15¢ per transaction swiped through the reader, or 3.5% + 15¢ per transaction where credit card info is typed in. No monthly fees, no sign up fee, and no contract, you are only charged based on your transactions. Automatically have records of who paid you what, when & where. Square also emails a receipt to the purchaser. Take a look, this product has a lot of promise!

Read David Pogue's article "A Simple Swipe on a Phone, and You’re Paid" from The NY Times.

FCC Updates Wireless Devices and Health Concern Consumer Fact Sheet

The FCC has issued an updated consumer fact sheet on wireless devices and health concern. The updated fact sheet was released last week without a formal announcement which has left many consumer advocate groups upset. The main change in the fact sheet is the FCC eliminated their previous suggestion of consumers purchasing phones with lower specific absorption rates.

There has been a lot of debate & few studies with conclusive evidence showing the effects of radio frequency on human tissue as a result of cell phone usage. Some believe it can be linked to cancer, while others say there is no evidence of ill-effects. The FCC has played mediator for these two schools of though. Requiring specific absorption rates to fall below the 1.6 national limit as well as offering guidance surrounding limiting exposure to cell phones.

Several advocacy groups have focused in on specific absorption rates of cell phones, most notably San Francisco, whom have passed an ordinance (to take effect February 2011) requiring cell phone companies to clearly list the radiation emissions of their products. Currently the FCC only require that cell phones pass their absorption tests. There is no requirement to list the rates on the phone or on the packaging. CTIA, a wireless trade group has filed a lawsuit to stop the San Franciscan ordinance from taking effect stating that specific absorption rates are not a good measure of radio frequency radiation exposure and that this would effect many companies including Apple, AT&T, Verizon and Motorola negatively.

Check out Cecilia Kang's article, FCC changes cellphone safety guidance.

Stop Hitting Snooze!

Are you tired? Tired of being jolted awake by the inhumane buzz of your alarm clock? Tired of you're spouse's alarm clock waking you up hours before you need to get up?  Lark Technologies Inc. is tired of it too. They are introducing their new product, Lark Up, a new silent alarm system built to wake you up gently like nature intended.

Lark Up requires an iPhone in addition to the Lark Up docking station & wrist band. The band is placed on your wrist before you go to bed and at the specified time it will silently vibrate to gently wake you. This product was shown at TechCrunch Disrupt-San Francisco this week and was picked by CNN to be listed as one of the 6 company startups trying to change the world (to read the entire article please go to CNN.com). While Lark Up has not been released yet, you can pre-order yours or learn more information at OurLark.com.

Ashcom Technologies Inc. does not endorse Lark Up or Lark Technologies Inc.

October Webinar Dates: Register Today

Have you wondered what upgrading from MaintiMizer Client/Server would do for you? Learn about the benefits and upgraded features you will experience using MaintiMizer Web Edition during our 10 minute free webinar.  Choose & click on a date below to register;

Tuesday, Oct. 19th at 2pm EDT or 

Wednesday Oct. 20th at 10am EDT

Remember, space is limited, so register today. For more information please check out our website, www.ashcomtech.com, we'll see you at the webinar!

FCC Allows Use of Unlicensed Airwaves

Yesterday, the FCC's 5 member commission unanimously voted to open up the use of "white space" airwaves to the public for high-speed internet connections to be used by smart phones, tablets and computers. "White space" waves are found in between tv channel frequencies and currently have not had sanctioned use. This is an exciting time for innovators, the last time the FCC approved use of a spectrum of waves brought us garage door openers, baby monitors & more recently, WiFi.

But of course, this decision had it's opponents. Dolly Parton, along with several broadcasters and ministers were concerned that the use of this spectrum of waves would disrupt wireless microphones & television broadcasting. The FCC listened and has reserved two channels for wireless microphones.

I cannot wait to see what innovators will come up with that will use with this newly accessible wave spectrum. I'm sure that in the near future, I will not be able to live without something that will use this frequency. Not to mention the boost the economy almost always sees when restraints are lifted and people are inspired to try something new. FCC I salute you today!


Read a more in depth article at washingtonpost.com.

Let the CMMS Software Do the Work for You

Running a big business is far from easy, even when you have the necessary skills to be a team leader. When your responsibility stretches beyond that of the company's personnel alone, you are left with the task of ensuring that everything is running smoothly. In a factory, that includes the equipment that does most of the work. This someone also needs to check these assets for good health and ensure that they're in perfect running condition. But as time has come to show, it does not have to be a someone, but rather, something. With the something, CMMS software, you'll have far less to worry about.

Of course the nature of the CMMS system you go for will determine how much work is taken off your hands. But speaking in a broad perspective, EAM software will at least ensure that your work orders are in place, the inventory is taken care of, and regular inspections are carried out to ensure normal functioning of the company's assets. One can only imagine how daunting a task this can be if it was left to human hands. Efficiency is improved, coupled with faster delivery time and reduced labor costs. For any profit-oriented business, that's sounds like a win right there.

When it comes to the purchasing of a CMMS program, it would be good to examine the needs of the company in detail. There are those programs that work under a web server, and those that do so, on a company's own in-house computer. Each has its pros and cons, as one would expect. If your business is spread over a large geographical area, as in with multiple locations, then a web edition CMMS would be the best solution. It would be a revenue saver, instead of getting individual programs for each branch with individual computers to accompany.

It can never be emphasized enough just how important an intuitive user interface is. While there is a sophisticated CMMS with the best CMMS tools you can think of on one side, there are also personnel and end users on the other side. Only a friendly UI can bridge this gap. Good vendors couple their CMMS products with education and training to ensure that the administrators understand every angle there is to know. Sometimes, this may come at some extra cost, but in the bigger picture, it saves time on learning how to use the software on your own.

Even in the scope of making things simpler, maintenance management software is not exactly the cheapest to find around, so it does help when it's included in the company's budget. But then again, that depends on the kind of deal that you come to with a viable software vendor. So many specificities are involved, like compatibility of the CMMS program with your existing hardware, the probability of future improvement on it, and so on. Ashcom Technologies is a reliable software developer that can get you all that you need in CMMS software. From affordable packages to highly sophisticated ones, you will have all your needs met, even beyond your expectations.

Ashley Combs

CMMS: The Benefits of Maintenance Management Software

Compiled by FacilitiesNet Staff

Very few companies relish the idea of spending money on computerized maintenance management software (CMMS). Maintenance departments are sometimes simply viewed as a cost of doing business, and in a difficult economy, maintenance departments are among the first to experience budget cuts.

Fortunately, computerized maintenance management software is one tool that can help mangers reshape the image of maintenance departments by showing how maintenance is valuable to the organization.

For example, improving equipment performance by reducing downtime is one important function of maintenance departments. This can be done by tracking the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), which has three components:

•Availability, or the percentage of time a piece of equipment is ready to work
•Utilization, which is the rating of the machine that is available from the manufacturer
•Quality rate, which is how well the equipment actually operates. Out of every 100 hours of operation, how many of them meet company standards and requirements?

Unfortunately, U.S. companies have an average OEE of only 40 percent, which is less than one-half of the acceptable level according to world-class standards. For example, assume for every hour of downtime, the organization loses $1,000. Since it is common for equipment to be down for a few weeks each year, assume downtime of 100 hours annually.

In this example, the company will lose $100,000 in the 100 hours of downtime. Multiply that by the pieces of equipment in the facility, and the losses could be staggering. If an appropriate PM program is in place, it can minimize downtime and save a great deal of money.

How Maintenance Management Software Can Reduce Downtime

Maintenance management software can help managers assure the high quality of both the equipment condition and its performance. So maintenance management software is not just a means of controlling maintenance. It is a primary tool for improving maintenance productivity. Key maintenance management software functions include: generating, planning, and reporting work orders; developing a traceable history; and recording parts transactions.

Managers can deliver a number of benefits through the efficient use of maintenance management software. Benefits include increased labor productivity, increased equipment availability and performance, and longer equipment life.
Of these, one of the most significant is increased labor productivity. If maintenance management software provides technicians with a planned job, the procedures, needed parts and tools, they should be able to work without delays or interruptions. They also should be able work more safely, since job plans would describe all of the required safety procedures.
The additional, tangible benefits of a maintenance management software include: reduced overtime; less reliance on contractors; reduced maintenance backlog; reduced cost per repair; improved morale; better service; less paperwork; and reduced follow-up required by supervisors.

Cool Roofs: Reducing Global Warming while Saving you Money

There is a "Cool Roof" initiative slowly gaining speed around the country. Painting roofs white with a special reflective paint is proving that it can save money & minimize the amount of green house gases a building produces. The white paint reflects the sun's rays, reducing the temperature of the roof, as well as the inside of the building. The reduced inside temperature reduces summer cooling costs, lowering carbon emissions.  Several studies show the emissions reduction to be significant and leave many wondering why this is taking so long to catch on, especially in cities where black flat roofs would be easy & relatively inexpensive to implement.

Cool roofs aren't just for large flat roofed buildings! There are roofing materials being manufactured that have reflective particles in the product. Buildings with pitched roofs don't have to sacrifice appearance for functionality and can reap the benefits of cool roof technology too.

Read more about Cool Roofing Technology at: Cool Roofs Rating Council or Berkley Lab.

Cyberspace Security: A National Priority

Last year President Obama addressed the importance of  protecting governmental & critical private computer networks. A year later and there is little evidence that we have made any strides in it's security. There is little opposition with the belief that federal computer systems are at risk from hackers and need to be protected. The problem seems to be that there is a disagreement on what to do to increase security, and how much security is within the governments jurisdiction. 

Sure, security of government agencies such as the Pentagon, CIA/FBI, and the Social Security Administration are the government's responsibility . But the clear-cut line blurs when you begin addressing the security of privately held utility companies such as gas, water, electric & telecommunications. All of which need a certain level of security but who's responsibility is it really? Certainly it would be disastrous if a bug got onto the national power grid & crashed the entire system. I can see the panic & mayhem already, but can the government govern these companies? I'm sure the answer will not come quickly or easily, only time will tell what will come of the cyberspace policy review that is celebrating it's first birthday.

For a more in-depth look at this subject please read The Washington Post Article By Ellen Nakashima.

Internet Explorer 9 Unveiled

Today, Microsoft introduced a new version of it's web-browser, Internet Explorer 9. IE9 will replace IE8 which debuted March, 2009. IE9 is an attempt to regain some of its market share in 2006 IE commanded 80+% of web-browser market share, compared to the 60% it currently has. The market for web-browsers has opened up and gotten more competitive. Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari are all throwing their hats into the ring to try to win market share. Microsoft has been slow in making huge leaps forward with newer versions of IE, IE9 is the exception.

IE9 has been behind in several innovations for web browsers. IE9 is trying to rival newer features in other browsers and also trying to move past competitors with even newer innovations of their own. These innovations do come at a price: IE9 was made to be supported on Windows 7. Windows Vista works but misses out on some of the newer features, and anything older than that simply isn't supported. I guess at some point Microsoft had to look into the future to become competitive with the other browsers out there, and in doing so they left the past behind....

Want to read more about IE9 specific features? Check out Edward C. Baig's USA Today article, Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9 a huge step forward .

Need Faster Internet? Move to Chattanooga!

A recent study has ranked the U.S. as having the18th fastest broadband speed in the world. (Check out the broadband map to see how we size up.) The government has taken notice of this report & in March, The Federal Communication Commission announced that they have created The National Broadband Plan to increase speed to 100-megabit-per-second connections in 100 million American homes by 2020. 

For some that isn't quick enough: both time-wise and speed-wise. Chattanooga, Tennessee began offering one-gigabit-per-second internet upload and download speeds Monday, September 13, 2010. The rate is 250 times the average internet speed in the nation. Chattanooga's mayor hopes that this will attract new businesses to the area looking for lightning-fast speeds that technology really isn't ready for, yet. Impatient web-serfers you may have found your Mecca!

Read the whole CNN article, Chattanooga Claims Fastest Internet in the U.S.

Cloudy with a 100% Chance of Enhanced Operational Efficiency

An Excerpt From: 

A Brief Introduction to Cloud Computing by Jonathan Hakim 

Software as a Service (SaaS), also commonly referred to as “cloud computing” or “on-demand services,” is sweeping through enterprises in just about every industry.  With SaaS, a customer licenses an application for use as a service on demand, either through a time subscription or a “pay-as-you-go” model, rather than purchase the hardware and software to run a standalone application on their own.

In a SaaS model, customers need only a computer or a server to download the application and Internet access to run the software.  While there is a considerable amount of hype around on-demand services, there are some very real advantages plants can leverage to enhance operational efficiencies, improve reliability and drive ROI up from their predictive maintenance and condition monitoring programs.

The catalyst behind increasing interest in on-demand services in manufacturing is plants’ requirements for services that deliver reliable information and analysis, accessible anywhere in the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  SaaS technology enables this “always on” business culture and removes the responsibility of implementing and maintaining IT infrastructure, which require hardware investments, software licensing and support costs.  Rather than spending time managing an IT network, plant managers are free to take on critical projects that will help them reach their reliability and uptime goals.

The Cloud is Accessible to Everyone

One of the primary benefits of cloud computing is that only minimal PC and technical components are necessary because cloud computing resources remain on the remote data center site.  In many cases, the web services deliver content to a thin client machine via a web browser.  The client computer resource requirements are low, needing only a decent Internet connection to the data center and basic Windows components such as a Remote Desktop client and a modern web browser.

The first question many manufacturing companies have when it comes to adopting a new technology like SaaS is whether it will require major up-front capital investments.  Oftentimes, even if the application or operating systems themselves aren’t expensive, plants will need to prepare their current infrastructure for the new product’s integration, which can lead to unforeseen costs.  SaaS, however, is not one of those technologies.

Look Beyond Cost-Savings to Business Benefits from the Cloud

Though SaaS has considerable cost benefits, plants that rely on the cloud solely for that reason are selling the technology short.  The first, and most important, reason plants should evaluate SaaS for their IT infrastructure is because it enables managers and employees to better share the results of their maintenance and reliability efforts.  Rather than sharing information amongst a small group in the engineering department, general machine condition health information can be accessed by all stakeholders in the enterprise or local plant.  This way, the condition monitoring program does not operate in a bubble and is accessible to personnel from operations, management, maintenance and engineering who are then in a position to make informed decisions that affect plant production and outage planning.  This sharing of information can ensure that the plant runs smoothly, and managers outside of the condition monitoring program always have the most current machine condition information.

Remote access greatly enhances condition monitoring data analysis practices.  Cost-cutting and lean manufacturing have led to a more distributed workforce including many remote employees. In this scenario, SaaS can have great benefits because isolated employees need only an Internet connection to perform a review or analyze work.  For instance, ordinarily a technician would collect machinery health information on a data collector and download information at the end of the day to a terminal where it would then be stored for analysis.  In a cloud computing environment, the worker can upload the information using a wireless network so remote engineers can review the data in near real-time, as well as store and retrieve data history and reports.  This gives them the ability to accurately assess the situation on the ground rather than having to re-deploy a technician to fix a problem after they have come back from the field.

Tackling Fear of the Cloud

Fear of cloud computing has been widely publicized within the media.  In fact, according to the ISACA IT Risk/Reward Barometer survey, nearly half of the 1,809 US IT professionals surveyed said that the potential risks associated with cloud computing outweigh its benefits and that 25 percent of respondents do not plan to use the cloud for any IT services.  This data is misleading because SaaS is a relatively new technology for the manufacturing industry, and the benefits and risks have not been clearly defined as of yet.  The technology is maturing, but is still in its relative infancy and many companies are currently evaluating the technology to see how it fits within their IT infrastructure.  Many of the claims made against SaaS are groundless and rooted in a fear of the unknown.  With the right education and partner, a plant can easily become more comfortable about the safety, security and reliability of its data in the cloud.

The key to alleviating cloud fears is to evaluate the potential SaaS partner’s network and security model and see how well it maps to the plant’s infrastructure.  The customer’s IT department should be directly involved in these discussions from the start.  They are truly the experts and have a specific set of criteria for their own enterprise network.  Here is a quick list of questions you should be asking that are helpful in appraising a cloud vendor’s security model:
 •   Do you clearly understand how the cloud computing offering
      works from the SaaS vendor?
 •   Does the vendor meet the IT security model of your plant?
 •   Does your plant have the delegated ability to control access
      to their system?
 •   Will your plant have clear lines of communication with the
      vendor for sales and technical support needs?  Does the
      vendor have a structured change management and
      patch management process?
 •   Can I obtain a copy of my data if I need to?

Flexible Cloud Deployment Models

An under-reported benefit to deploying cloud computing within your IT infrastructure is the flexibility it offers. While many companies wring their hands when thinking about sharing their sensitive information with a third party, SaaS technology has matured to the point where manufacturing organizations can put as much, or as little, data in the cloud as they are comfortable with at any one time.

Admittedly, cloud computing is still at nascent stages of adoption for predictive maintenance and condition monitoring initiatives, so we strongly recommend “doing your homework” along with implementing a thorough evaluation of a potential SaaS partner. Customer support, uptime and security protocols should be at the forefront of your discussions when evaluating vendors, especially if this is your first foray into the cloud. A good SaaS partner is critical as it will be the key in helping your plant achieve the performance and budget goals that will catch the eye of senior management and keep your predictive maintenance and condition monitoring programs running smoothly.

To view the entire article please check out reliabilityweb.com or AshcomTech.com to learn about what MaintiMizer.com™ has to offer.

Lithium Ion Battery Plant Opens in Livonia MI

A123 Systems celebrated it's grand opening today as the country's largest lithium ion automotive battery plant. The Livonia Michigan plant is a welcomed addition during the current recession. The Bureau of Labor Statics listed Michigan as having the second highest unemployment rate at 13.1% (just below Nevada at 14.3%) in July 2010.

The plant currently employs 300 workers manufacturing prismatic cells; a thin rectangular battery about the size of a license plate. It produces 20 amp hours and 66 watt hours; 300 to 400 of the prismatic cells are needed for one electric car battery pack.The cost of a typical hybrid plug-in battery is currently $10,000-$12,000, though it's expected to be halved within 4 years, according to Jason Forcier, vice president of A123 Systems' Automotive Solutions Group division.

Perhaps this is the start of the  "Green Movement" will help Metro-Detroit, and the rest of the nation rally from these hard times.

For more please visit The Detroit Free Press. 

Healthy Drains Lead to a Healthy Environment

“Clean for Health” has long been the phrase used to describe the focus of the sanitation program in schools and hospitals across the country. Today, with the increased media attention on hospital acquired infections and foodborne illnesses, combined with societal efforts to become more environmentally conscientious, our sanitation programs must now incorporate a comprehensive drain maintenance program.

Organizations including the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) with their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs and Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) have helped to bring attention to the issue. “Healthy drains lead to a healthy environment.”

Past practices of pouring sulfuric acid down slow flowing drains to open them up or pouring bleach down the drain to knock down odors are being replaced with healthy concepts and programs that start by first identifying the source of the problem, not just the location and symptom. Schools and hospitals share a variety of environments that have similar types of drains and issues including foodservice or dietary, restrooms, showers, drinking fountains, and custodial closets. Further, in buildings that have multiple levels, there are additional laterals and trunk lines that are part of the building’s drain system.

Whether it is a kitchen drain backing up or a restroom drain emitting off foul odors, these simple drain situations can pose potentially serious health effects to visitors and staff alike.The issues and remedies do vary by area. And they must be reviewed separately first, and then combined together as a comprehensive drain program.

One of the biggest drain challenges for the facility is located in the dietary area. With food being processed and small chunks of waste being washed down the line, the staff may have to deal with as many as three different but related issues; slow or plugged lines, odors and unwanted pestilents such as rodents or drain flies.

The first line of defense for all three of these problems is prevention. By incorporating “best management practices” to limit the amount of the food waste that goes down the drain (pre-scraping the food off the plates and into the trash, eliminating the use of garbage disposals, and putting on drain screens to catch food particles), much of the food waste is kept out of the system. Not only does this help keep the drains clean, but it often helps minimize the wastewater bill through the reduction of the waste in the system.

After limiting the amount of food that goes down the drain through best management practices, the next step is to remove the waste that has entered the drain and become attached to the drain line. Removing the physical soil will usually also control related foul odors since the odors are primarily comprised of either amines or gases that are often released from the waste. Prior to removal of this waste, one must first identify the type of drain or drains located in the problem area. Dietary drains are usually one of two types, either a standard floor drain with some sort of drain screen or a trough like trench drain.

For a standard drain you should assess how much of a build-up is in the line. If the drain is plugged or almost plugged, to minimize cost and time, a mechanical means such as hydro-jetting or snaking the line is usually the fastest remedy. Today this process is the best way to handle drains that are in desperate need of deep restoration. If the drain flows slowly due to a partial build-up, there are a couple of additional remedies that maybe incorporated to eliminate the physical build-up. One method is to incorporate a regular routine of a natural biological solution that digests the sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats being dumped down the drain. These natural digesters are a great supplement as they generally do not cause downstream issues in the municipal systems and do not pose any significant health risk to the facility. Biological products are to the drain, what a toothbrush and toothpaste are to teeth.

In the kitchen, there is often the tendency to try to routinely treat the floor drains with an emulsifier similar to those found in D-limonene or sodium hydroxide based products. Be aware that most communities are now forbidding the use of these types of emulsifiers to treat the grease interceptors or traps since they defeat the purpose of the interceptor, which is to mechanically separate food waste from the water. This is important because the kitchen drain lines feed through these traps right into the municipal collection system. If it is apparent that the facility is going to use an emulsifier to routinely maintain kitchen drains, approval from the local sewer authority is highly recommended. Failure to do so could lead to a downstream issue that may drastically raise the sewer bill.

The second type of drain commonly found in the dietary area is the trough style trench drain. This drain allows for easier access to a larger section of the drain and the dumping of water from large pots, mixing bowls, etc. Because of its exposed area, the entire trench drain should be treated as part of the floor surface. It should be cleaned using the same procedures and products used to clean the entire floor surface. Be sure to remove the grates and clean the trough portion of the drain as well.

There have been studies conducted by universities that suggest perhaps an effective way to eliminate a drain fly infestation is by removing their food and breeding sources (the wet sugars and carbohydrates) in and around the drain. Last fall, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was very careful to clearly remind every supplier that if they want to make any reference to chemically or biologically achieving this goal, the product must go through the appropriate testing and registration process.

Restroom drains have long been a challenge for the maintenance staff as the issues range from the disposal of inappropriate materials into the drains (gloves, pens, diapers, and feminine hygiene materials) to odors coming from incorrectly plumbed pipes. For the inappropriate materials, today there is no safe substitute to the mechanical removal of the materials. For odors in pipes that have not been plumbed properly, the only relief is to keep it lubricated or wet (using water) until a proper drain or vent can be installed. Due to indoor air quality issues, the hazards of accidentally mixing bleach with other chemicals, and the violent reaction that may occur; it is not a good idea to pour bleach down the drain to control odors. If the pipes are well lubricated and the drain is still emitting an odor, if it can be determined that the odor is a gas or an amine coming from the soil in the drain, a proper biological material may digest that soil and eliminate the smell.

Shower drains are handled similarly to bathroom drains with the exception that often the shower drain will get loaded with a “hairball.” That is the clump of hair that over time has been tangled around soap that is in the drain. The remedy is to either mechanically remove the hairball or break the soap down that holds the hairball together. This can be done with either a small amount of a biodegradable degreaser or by using a biological product to break the clump down over time. As the soap is broken down, the hair will tend to slide down the drain and the shower will regain its capacity to drain.

The last set of problematic drains that are commonly found in schools and hospitals are the drains in the custodial closets. The biggest challenge here is that due to the drain being used to empty everything from buckets, extractors, and automatic scrubbers, the best way to prevent the plugging of the line and production
of foul odors is to simply rinse some water down the drain after emptying the last container of the group. This process will flush the residual debris and odor causing waste down the drain. If odors persist, a biological drain maintenance product is a safe, easy tool for this application.

Whether it is a kitchen drain backing up or a restroom drain emitting off foul odors, these simple drain situations can cause potentially serious health effects on visitors and staff alike. When deciding just how important a routine drain maintenance program is, keep in mind, “Healthy Drains are the next step to a Healthy Environment.”

John Schauff is the bioaugmentation manager for Maumee, Ohio-based Spartan Chemical Company, Inc. and is an ISSA Certified Expert (ICE) This article was originally posted at facilitymanagement.com.

Google Introduces Google Instant

According to Google, the average web search takes 25 seconds; 9 seconds to type our the query, 1 second for Google to return the results, and another 15 seconds for the user to choose which link to click. Google boasts that their new system, Google Instant, will shave off 2 additional seconds off a web search.

I've gotta be honest with you, I didn't think it took too long to display search results, I thought things were fine. I also didn't think I needed a cell phone with a QWERTY keypad when they came out, how wrong was I! I can admit when I'm wrong, and maybe I'm wrong about this too.

Start typing your query in the search box, as you type Google Instant will immediately begin completing what you're typing and will display search results at the bottom of the page. Of course the more you type the closer the results will be. I think the coolest thing about Google Instant is that the results begin populating before you're even done typing, and that's where the real time savings comes in. Google has tried to safeguard this feature for children, for example if you are trying to search "pooh bear" and type in "po" google will not display the results for "porn". Google also gives you the option to disable Google Instant if you don't trust their safeguards or if you simply don't like Instant.

Only through using Instant can you make a determination of liking it or not. I think it's pretty neat & will try it out, at least for a bit. The only thing I don't like about it right now is that the search box on the home page is centered on the page, as soon as you begin entering something into the box it jumps to the top of the screen so that there is space to show the results. The "jump" is jerky and a little distracting. The fix, (& I know Google will resist this suggestion) Change the home page so that the search box is at the top of the page in the first place. Yes this will change their image drastically, the centered, uncluttered home page that we have grown accustom to and that has made Google so successful, but at some point you have to put function over fashion.

For now you can use Instant on Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari & Chrome. The product is expected to roll out to other browsers & countries in the future. For further information take a look at Doug Gross' article, New Google Instant Shows Search Results as you Type
 

Press Release Wednesday: 2nd Edition

Here at the Advisor, the second Wednesday of the month is reserved for an installment series of Ashcom Press Release. We hope this keeps you in the loop of what's happening and what's new. Happy Reading!

Ashcom Technologies Strengthens Relationship with Ultra Dairy

Ann Arbor, Michigan (March 2, 2010) - Ashcom Technologies, Inc., today announces that it has significantly strengthened its long-term relationship with Ultra Dairy. Based in DeWitt, New York, Ultra Dairy has used Ashcom's MaintiMizer™ computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to manage its maintenance operations since 2004.  Most recently, Ashcom held a three-day customized training session at the Ultra Dairy facility to help new maintenance personnel quickly learn how to use MaintiMizer™ efficiently and effectively.

Marvin Anderson, CMMS Specialist at Ultra Dairy, states, "Ashcom Technologies has always been there for us, going back to when our sister facility started using MaintiMizer™ in the mid-1990s. For example, they often check in just to make sure the system is doing what we want it to do. We knew our new maintenance personnel needed training, but with a 24/7 operation it was hard to schedule that training effectively. Ashcom knew our needs and found a solution-they  brought their training to us at our location."
"We greatly value the loyalty of long-term clients like Ultra Dairy," says Timothy Good, president of Ashcom Technologies. "We're pleased that the MaintiMizer™ maintenance management solution has been a part of Ultra Dairy's success and look forward to a strong and successful relationship between our two companies for many years to come."

About Ultra Dairy
Opened in 2004, the Ultra Dairy plant is a 110,000 sq. ft. ultra pasteurization manufacturing facility in Dewitt, New York. The plant features investments in both Ultra High Temperature (UHT) and Extended Shelf Life (ESL) technology. Ultra Dairy is the sister company of Byrne Dairy. Established in 1933, Byrne Dairy bottles tens of millions of gallons of milk, cream, and ice cream annually, distributing its products throughout the entire Eastern Seaboard.

About Ashcom Technologies, Inc.
Since 1985, Ashcom Technologies, Inc., has been an industry leader in the development and installation of state-of-the-art systems and technology designed to help organizations save money, increase quality, and improve the bottom line. MaintiMizer™, Ashcom's flagship computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), is the choice of more than 3,000 customers in a variety of industries worldwide. For additional information, please contact info@ashcomtech.com or call toll-free (800) 366-0793 (outside the U.S., call +1-734-665-1780).

Enjoy this article? Can't wait for next month's installment? Read additional Press Releases from Ashcom Technologies today! 

Discovering the Nature of Your CMMS Package Needs

Never has there been a simpler solution to your maintenance needs than a CMMS System. It's simplicity, convenience, reduced costs and maintenance management all wrapped up in one neat package that is designed to meet your needs. Computer Maintenance Management Software is not exactly the latest breakthrough in the software development market, but its one that has come to change how maintenance departments operate in any given facility.

When you are out looking for maintenance management software, you are guaranteed to find many options. Unfortunately, not all of them can adequately apply to your situation without falling short on one or two of the standard CMMS tools. That is why the very first step to buying a CMMS program is to understand your needs. This will help you narrow down on the kinds of EAM software the market has to offer. The next step is more important though, and that is learning the nature of the package you get.

How big do you want the CMMS program to be? Is it going to be operating in a small facility with little maintenance needs or is it going to service a huge company with hundreds or thousands of employees? This is the first question that begs to be answered as the kind of software you get has to handle all the work you throw at it without it slowing down or developing faults. Is said facility/company going to have its own server or is it going to depend on the vender for keeping the system going. There are pros and cons to having a web-server and a personal server to hold the software. If your company is spread across different locations, a web server is the best choice, since the internet will allow for geographical flexibility. That means that the same system can be accessed from different points as long as there is the availability of the internet. But if the facility is centrally located in one place, then you can have your own server and in turn, complete control of your CMMS software.

How does the maintenance management system handle the work orders? Intuitive handling of this specific component will ensure fluidity in the operations. When a scheduler carefully indicates or dispatches info on where someone is supposed to be and at what time, more work gets done. A friendly user interface with little complexities helps end users get more accustomed to using the program as well. Does the package you get offer you comprehensive coverage of your inventory? And does the preventative maintenance tool guarantee you detailed data about the equipment you are using? These are important questions to ask as you proceed with learning the nature of the package that you are in the market for.
A good vendor should understand your needs first before presenting you with the products they have. They should take your hand and guide you through their programs so that you can choose the best one. At Ashcom Technologies, that is precisely what you are guaranteed, and much, much more.

Ashley Combs