|
Business
Issues
Miller
is responsible for installing and servicing numerous pipelines for
their customers. As with many contracting companies, Miller relied
on paper-based processes to collect data about their jobs completed
in the field. Less than a year ago the idea of the foremen submitting
their daily paperwork electronically seemed far away and idealistic,
although management knew that access to real-time information would
greatly increase the productivity of Miller’s field operations.
Their goal was to increase timeliness, efficiency and accuracy of
their field-to-office communications.
One
of the first projects Miller wanted to implement was to collect
labor hours electronically on Panasonic Toughbooks instead of on
paper time cards. Miller's manual process meant that at the end
of each day foremen would record the number of hours worked, the
names of crew members and the services performed. Superintendents
then collected the paperwork, reviewed it for accuracy and submitted
it to the corporate office. This process generated an excess of
7,000 sheets of paper on a weekly basis! In addition, Miller Pipeline
needed an enterprise mobility software platform to automate their
work orders. Because each customer required Miller to collect different
sets of data using different forms, they needed a flexible mobility
solution that allowed them to modify work orders quickly and deploy
them to remote work sites on-the-fly. Due to the sophistication
of their work order applications and the scale of their operations,
Miller Pipeline’s IT staff determined that they required a
full-featured yet easy-to-use platform.
|
"One
of the strategic initiatives developed by the executive management
team is 'lean construction' to drive productivity. Eliminating
the daily obstacles that create unproductive labor hours provides
significant value for our customers and employees. MobileFrame's
platform has enabled us to capture real-time payroll hours,
contract hours, invoicing data, job cost data, and all relevant
information required to run our operation. In addition, MobileFrame
provides immediate key performance indicators and productivity
feedback metrics to the foremen. This scoreboard provides
Miller invaluable real-time information."
- Dennis Norman, VP of Corporate Performance
"MobileFrame
eliminates redundancy. I enter the information in one place,
one time, and everyone who needs it gets it within minutes.
The program is easy to use because the screen looks just like
the paperwork we are used to filling out."
- Dave Chew, Miller Pipeline Foreman
"If
you make a mistake, (i.e. man hours don't add up) the software
won't let you move on until you fix it. This helps us collect
more accurate data."
– Steve Barnett, Miller Pipeline Area Manager
|
MobileFrame
Solution
MobileFrame's
software has allowed Miller Pipeline to automate their field service
data collection on a single, fully integrated, 100% code-free mobility
platform. With integrated intelligent networking, prioritized synchronization,
remote device management, secure instant messaging, and remote software
updates all built into one software platform, MobileFrame significantly
streamlined Miller Pipeline's mobile application development and
deployment. Data collected in the field is stored on a handheld
device and automatically synchronized to Miller Pipeline's back
office whenever the handheld device senses connectivity. MobileFrame’s
software operates on any .NET enabled handheld device, including
PDA's, Smart Phones, Tablet PC's and Laptops.
MobileFrame
has provided Miller Pipeline with the ability to view all daily
work activity in real-time and Miller's invoicing process is totally
paperless now. Miller's business and customer requirements change
quickly and MobileFrame's rapid application deployment ability allows
Miller to provide workers in the field with up to the minute data.
Productivity has been greatly enhanced across Miller's operations.
Some of the benefits they've gained include:
- Mobile
workers have seen 25% efficiency gains through elimination of
paperwork. Most importantly, MobileFrame has allowed Miller to
integrate logic at the point of data entry. This has eliminated
95% of errors previously caused due to inability to read hand
writing, missing data, wet and smeared forms, inaccurate data,
missing paperwork, etc.
- Complete
end-to-end electronic data submittal has eliminated the biggest
bottleneck. Prior to MobileFrame, Administration had to match
up completed forms from the field with time cards, and then enter
everything manually. Management estimates that MobileFrame has
reduced the data entry, invoicing and job cost time burdens by
90%.
- Accuracy
of data was a major issue before, but this system has eliminated
all of the transcription errors caused by the inability to read
handwriting and accuracy is 100% perfect now. Customers are very
pleased and complimentary about Miller’s improved billing
accuracy.
-
Prior to implementing MobileFrame, the invoicing department waited
one week before receiving paperwork from the field. Now they are
able to view the data immediately so questionable transactions
can be resolved earlier, resulting in a more expedient invoicing
process.
More
Satisfied MobileFrame Customers
MobileFrame
customers include many large enterprises such as AOL, Boeing, Ecolab,
Malin Handling, Raymond Corporation, Toyota, World Kitchen, Springs,
Stratus, Pride Industries, SCS Engineers, SC Johnson, Pepsi, Lucas
Tree Experts, SBM Group, City of San Jose, Zippi/EBay, Miller Pipeline
and the United States Navy among others.
Read
how Hunt
Brothers uses MobileFrame to improve its delivery service.
For
more information about MobileFrame:
Check
out www.MobileFrame.com,
read our blog at http://blog.mobileframe.com
or follow MobileFrame on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mobileframe)
Recent
MobileFrame News on MobileVillage:
|
