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.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
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
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
Thursday, October 21, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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
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
Monday, October 18, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Press Release Wednesday: 3rd Edition
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!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, October 11, 2010
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.
For a more indepth article please visit The Washington Post.
Friday, October 8, 2010
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:
This excerpt was originally published in Food Processing Magazine written by Bob Sperber.
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.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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 .
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 .
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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!
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!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Personal Credit Card Machine
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.
Friday, October 1, 2010
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.
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.
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