Portable Appliance/Safety Testing

Reference No: 27542

Details

The Portable Appliance/Safety Testing functionality allows Asset’s status to be automatically marked to QC/Needs Service, once it satisfies the criterion as set in service Schedules added in the Maintenance Group tagged to Asset's parent Item.

Sample Workflow

The Portable Appliance/Safety Testing functionality is explained with a sample workflow.

  1. Select the Validate QC/Service on Return check box (in Configuration module > Warehouse tab) to enable the Maintenance validation of Assets while scanning, based on the schedules in their tagged Maintenance Group, during all Warehouse operations.

Figure 1.0 Enabling Maintenance Validation of Assets while Scanning for Warehouse Operations

Notes regarding Validate QC/Service on Return check box

  1. By default, the system will have a built in Schedule named [QC ON RETURN] for tagging to Maintenance Groups, as shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1 Schedule Edit Dialog Box of built in Schedule (accessed from Item Edit window > Maintenance Group importable button > Add icon > List button > Add button)

Notes regarding built in Schedule

Details of Fields in Schedule Edit Dialog Box

  1. Create an Item [SONYALPHA5] on June 01, 2014 at Site [San Francisco], and receive few quantities of it.

  2. Click the importable button in Groups > Maintenance field. The Maintenance Group window is displayed.

  3. Click Add icon. The Schedules window is displayed.

  4. Enter following values for the new Maintenance Group as:

  1. Click List button. The Schedule List window is displayed.

  2. Double click on built in Schedule named [QC ON RETURN] listed here and click OK. This Schedule gets added to the Maintenance Group being created and gets listed in the Schedules window.

  3. Click List button from Schedules window again. The Schedule List window is displayed.

  4. Click Add button. The Schedule Edit window is displayed.

  5. Create a new Schedule by entering following values in the fields of the Schedule Edit window, as shown in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2 New Schedule created for Periodic Servicing of Asset after 90days time

  1. Click OK button. The Schedule gets created and listed in Schedule List window.

  2. Double click on the new Schedule listed in Schedule List window and click OK. This Schedule gets added to the Maintenance Group being created and gets listed in the Schedules window, as shown in Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.3 Schedules being added to Maintenance Group being created

  1. Click OK button. The Maintenance Group is created and is listed along with its Schedules in Maintenance Group window, as shown in Figure 1.4.

Figure 1.4 Maintenance Group created along with its Schedules

  1. Double-click on the listed Maintenance Group named [MAINTGRP]. The system prompts with a message "Enable QC Schedules?", on newly tagging a Maintenance group having one or more Schedules with Mark As set as QC to Item Edit window > Groups > Maintenance field, as shown in Figure 1.5.

Figure 1.5 Message Prompted on Tagging a Maintenance Group with Mark As - QC Schedules newly to Item Edit > Groups > Maintenance Field

Notes regarding the message prompted

  1. Click For All Sites button in the message prompt. The Maintenance Group [MAINTGRP] gets tagged to the Item [SONYALPHA5] and the QC check box gets selected for this Item for all Sites, as shown in Figure 1.6.

Figure 1.6 Maintenance Group created and tagged to Item [SONYALPHA5]

  1. Click All Site Details button. The All Site Details window gets displayed listing all the Sites, as shown in Figure 1.7. The Maintenance validation for the Item based on condition in Schedules with Mark As set as QC will happen for the Item at the Sites with QC check box selected against them.
    For example, QC check based on Schedules in tagged Maintenance Group [MAINTGRP] will happen for Item [SONYALPHA5] at Sites [NEWYORK], [WASHINGTON], [DETROIT] and [SAN FRANCISCO].

Figure 1.7 QC Check Box in All Site Details Dialog Box

For more in Formation on All Site Details dialog box set up for validating Items based on tagged Maintenance Groups, click here.

  1. Schedule a Windows Task Scheduler to schedule the periodic checking and marking of Assets’ Status to QC or Needs Service, on a day-to-day basis.

This scheduler is required to be run on a periodic basis to mark Assets, as QC/Needs Service, which satisfies service conditions set in tagged Maintenance Group’s Schedules which are based on Schedule Type as Periodic/Meter/Duration Rented/Times Rented.

For more in Formation on how to setup a Windows Task Scheduler, click here.

  1. The Assets of the Item [SONYALPHA5] gets their Status set to QC when the windows task scheduler runs on August 30, 2014. This is because the Item has completed 90 days without servicing. This satisfies the service condition as set in the tagged Maintenance Group’s Schedule named [PERIODIC90DAYS].

  2. Now, try to ship the Assets of the Item [SONYALPHA5] whose Status set to QC, on orders.
    System will not allow shipping them as the Assets are in QC. And this will be allowed only after bringing back the Assets’ status from QC to IN.

  3. Service the Assets of Item [SONYALPHA5] on September 01, 2014 by creating Service Tickets or by using Quick Service feature from Service module.

  4. Create a Rental Reservation Order [CO378661] at Site [San Francisco] on September 26, 2014.

  5. Add the item [SONYALPHA5] to Order [CO378661], fill and ship the Asset [SONYALPHA#1], as shown in Figure 1.8.

Figure 1.8 Assets shipped from Sample Order [CO378661]

  1. Generate the Equipment Delivery Receipt (EDR) print using [153800UI] for the Order [CO378661]. The EDR print gets generated, as shown in Figure 1.9.

Figure 1.9 Sample EDR Print with details of the Assets present in the Order, their Last Service’s Date, and the Employee ID of the Employee who performed the Last Service of the Asset

  1. Access Return Order window of Order [CO378661] on October 07, 2014, and return the Asset [SONYALPHA#1].
    The Asset received is due for service based on the tagged Maintenance group’s built in Schedule [QC ON RETURN] tagged to Asset’s parent Item with Times Rented interval as 1 and QC is selected for the Item [SONYALPHA5] and the Site [San Francisco] - the system displays the prompt message ”Asset is due for Service. Do you want to mark it as QC / Needs Service as per its Maintenance setup?” with Yes and No options, as shown in Figure 1.10.

Figure 1.10 Prompt Message Displayed for Asset that is due for Service while Returning the Asset using Return functionality

Note: If the user chooses to not perform the servicing of an Asset when the system prompts based on a currently satisfying service schedule by clicking No button then, the system starts considering the interval for the schedule from that point onwards.

Notes about Prompt Message Displayed for Asset that is due for Service while Returning the Asset using Return functionality

Figure 1.11 Prompt Message Displayed for Asset that is due for Service while Returning the Asset using Return All/Batch Return > Detail functionality

Note: This message prompt can be secured by applying security policies to any 2 buttons.  Doing so the message won't get prompted and system works as though user has selected the third option which is not secured.

  1. Select the Skip prompt for all Assets due for Service scanned during this session check box in the prompt message and click OK button.
    The system marks the Asset [SONYALPHA#1] as QC (as per Mark as > QC option selected in the built in Schedule dialog box for the Maintenance group tagged to the Asset’s parent Item).

  2. The system sets Asset Status as QC for the Asset returned on the Order which satisfies the service condition set in the tagged Maintenance Groups with built in Schedule.

Note: The Assets with Service Status as Needs Service can still be filled / shipped on other Orders without servicing them. However, once Service Ticket is created, it cannot be filled / shipped.

  1. Service the Asset [SONYALPHA#1] of Item [SONYALPHA5] by creating a Service Ticket or by using Quick Service feature from Service module.

Additional in Formation

Figure 2.0 Sample All Site Details Dialog Box setup for Item [SONYALPHA5]

Table 2.0 Details of how of PAT/Safety Testing will happen for Item [SONYALPHA5] based on Maintenance Group tagged in its Item Edit Window > Groups > Maintenance field and also the setup made in its All Site Details Dialog Box

B. While Generating Needs Service:

Note: If more than one Service Schedule is satisfied, system first checks for the Schedule with QC option. If that is not successful then it will proceed with Schedule with Needs Service.

The functionality of marking of Assets as QC or Needs Service based on the Maintenance Group can also be achieved by scheduling a batch file in Windows Task Scheduler instead of manually clicking on the Service > Generate Needs Service flag. If the batch file is scheduled on the Windows Task Scheduler, it does not need user intervention. It will run as per the recurrence settings chosen while scheduling the task on the windows task scheduler. For more in Formation on how to setup a Windows Task Scheduler, click here.

  1. Fill and Ship the Asset [AS023] on Order [CO382823] or on Transfer Order. The Asset Status will be Out. The Asset’s parent Item is tagged with Maintenance group’s built-in Schedule QC ON RETURN and has QC as selected.

  2. Now, try filling the Asset [SONYALPHA#1] on another Order [CO378682] or on Transfer Order. The prompt message ”The Asset <Asset ID> is OUT on Order <Order ID>. The Asset needs QC. Do you want to ignore QC and fill?” is displayed with Yes and No options, as shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1 Message Prompted while filling an Asset on an Order/Transfer Order that is Out on a different Order

Notes regarding Message Prompted while filling an Asset on an Order/Transfer Order that is Out on a different Order.

  1. Select Auto Return Missing/Lost check box in Configuration module > Warehouse tab.

  2. Fill and Ship the Asset [AS022] on Order [CO382828]. The Asset Status is Out. The Asset’s parent Item is tagged with Maintenance group’s built-in Schedule QC ON RETURN and has QC as selected.

  3. Mark the Asset [AS022] as Lost from the Return Order window.

  4. Now, try filling the Asset [AS022] on another Order [CO378689]. The prompt message ”Asset <Asset ID> is lost on Order <Order ID>. The Asset needs QC. Do you want to ignore QC and fill?” with Yes and No options is displayed, as shown in Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.2 Message Prompted while filling a Lost/Missing Asset on an Order

Notes regarding Message Prompted while filling a Lost/Missing Asset on an Order.

 

  1. Fill and Ship Some Assets [AS#1], [AS#2], [BS#32] and [BS#41] on an Order [CO392828].
    The Assets’ [AS#1], [AS#2] parent Item is tagged with Maintenance group which has built-in Schedule QC ON RETURN tagged to it and which has Mark As selected as QC. While Assets [BS#32] and [BS#41] are not tagged with any Maintenance group nor is the QC check box selected.

  2. Create another Order [CO392829] and Ship Items from Order [CO392828] using the Ship Items from Order feature in Order Fill window. The prompt message ”Some of the Assets on Order <Order ID> need QC. Do you want to ignore QC and import?” is displayed with Yes and No options, as shown in Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.3 Message Prompted while performing Ship Items from Order

  1. Fill and Ship the Asset [AS020] on Order [CO382829]. The Asset’s parent Item is tagged with Maintenance group which has built-in Schedule QC ON RETURN tagged to it and which has Mark As selected as QC.

  2. Return the Asset [AS020]. The Asset is marked as QC as it fulfills the criterion to be marked as QC on Return as per the tagged Maintenance group.

  3. Try to un-return the Asset. The system displays the message ”Item is in QC. Cannot Un-return.”

Note: All the above mentioned exceptions are applicable even while returning Items through Read Data or Read File. On using Read Data or Read File functionality, the system will mark the Assets satisfying their Maintenance criteria as QC/Needs Service without prompting the user.

  1. Rep_OrderAssetSchedule (Report for the Assets expected to be Returned for the day and satisfying the Maintenance criteria) - This is a function based report that can be run as a custom report. This details of the Report's columns are provided in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1 Report Column Details

Column Name

Description

RETURNDATE

Items with return date with this date and satisfy any maintenance schedule as on this date.

ASSETID

The ID of the Asset.

STATUS

Status of Asset on the Order (OUT / OVERDUE).

  • Overdue items are considered irrespective of the Date selected while generating the report.

SCHEDULEID

The ID of the first schedule tagged to the Asset whose service condition is satisfied.

  • Schedule with Mark As as QC is given priority over those as Needs Service.

SCHEDULETYPE

Type of the Schedule. Possible values are:

  • Periodic

  • Meter

  • Duration Rented

  • Times Rented

SCHEDULEINTERVAL

The Interval of the Schedule whose service condition is satisfied for the Asset.

SCHEDULEMARKAS

The Mark As option set in the Schedule whose service condition is satisfied for the Asset. Possible values are:

  • QC

  • Needs Service

ORDERID

The Order on which the Asset is currently in Out / In-transfer / Overdue.

ORDERDESCRIPTION

The Description of the Order.

ORDERSITE

The Site where the Order is created.

 

  1. Rep_AssetQCNeedServiceView (Report for the Assets which are QC / Needs Service by Order) - The assets which are currently in QC / Needs Service will be extracted in this report. This details of the Report's columns are provided in Table 2.2

Table 22 Report Column Details

Column Name

Description

ASSETID

The ID of the Asset which is either marked as QC or Needs Service.

ORDERID

The Order on which the Asset is last used where the Asset satisfied its service Schedule criteria and is marked as QC/Needs Service.

ORDERSITEID

The ID of the Site where the Order is created.

MARKEDAS

The Asset is marked as QC/Needs Service based on the Mark As option set in the Schedule whose service condition is satisfied for the Asset. Possible values are:

  • QC

  • Needs Service

MARKEDONDATE

The date when the Asset is marked as QC/Needs Service.

MARKEDBY

The ID of the Employee who marked the Asset as QC/Needs Service.

  1. Rep_MaintenanceScheduleLog - This report provides the list of Assets which are in Out/Missing/Lost/In-Transfer/Filled/Repair/QC/Sold status but has satisfying maintenance schedules as per the date and time the report is run and as such could not be serviced. The details of the Report's columns are provided in Table 2.3.

Table 2.3 Report Column Details

Column Name

Description

ASSETID

The ID of the Asset which has satisfying maintenance schedules but could not be marked as QC/Needs Service raising an Exception.

CURRENTASSETSTATUS

The current Status of the Asset at the time of generating this report.

ASSETSTATUSCONFLICT

The Status of the Asset which resulted in the Asset being unable to be marked as QC/Needs Service.

SCHEDULEID

The ID of the first schedule tagged to the Asset whose service condition is satisfied.

SCHEDULETYPE

Type of the Schedule. Possible values are:

  • Periodic

  • Meter

  • Duration Rented

  • Times Rented

SCHEDULEINTERVAL

The Interval of the Schedule whose service condition is satisfied for the Asset.

MARKTYPE

The Mark As option set in the Schedule whose service condition is satisfied for the Asset. Possible values are:

  • QC

  • Needs Service

CONTRACTID

The ID of the Rental Order or Transfer Order where the Asset is used resulting in the exception.

CONTRACTDESCRIPTION

The Description of the Rental Order or the Transfer Order.

SITEID

The Site ID of the Rental Order's Site or Transfer Order's To Site's ID.

Setting Up and Running a Windows Task Scheduler

A Windows Task Scheduler can be setup for the periodic checking of whether any Assets have satisfied the service conditions from their tagged Maintenance Group, as explained below. If one or more Assets satisfy the service criteria then:

 For detailed in Formation on how and when an Asset's Status/Service Status gets set to QC/Needs Service, refer the Additional in Formation section in this topic.

Configuring Oracle Client Installation and path in the Operating system

Setting up the Windows Task Scheduler consists of the following steps.

  1. Creating SQL file for executing the procedure named PatAutomation.sql

  2. Creating a Batch file for executing the automation procedure

  3. Scheduling Windows Task Scheduler for executing the batch file.

Step 1 - Creating SQL file for executing the procedure named PatAutomation.sql - Details

Create a ASCII file with extension .sql (For example PatAutomation.sql) enter the below command lines and save the file.

exec generateneedservice ('<UserName>',<date for which this sql procedure should be run>);

exit;

For example, to connect with Username = MANTRA and for current system date, setup the command in the ASCII file as:

exec generateneedservice ('MANTRA',sysdate);

exit;

Step 2 - Creating a Batch file for executing the automation procedure - Details

Create a file with extension .bat (For example PatAutomation.bat) with the following command lines and save the file in the same folder where the .sql file named PatAutomation.sql is stored.

sqlplus username/password @connect string @ [filename including its entire path in the system].sql

Note: User name, Password and Connect string represents the key values for connecting to the oracle database. @ [filename].sql represents the name of the .sql file created in Step 1.

For example:

sqlplus qcstagv56/qcstagv56@r2c  @D:\pat\PatAutomation.sql

Step 3 - Scheduling Windows Task Scheduler for executing the batch file - Details

  1. To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks. The Scheduled Tasks window is displayed.

  2. Double-click the Add Scheduled Task icon. The Scheduled Task Wizard is displayed.

  3. Click Next button. The dialog box displays a list of programs that are installed on your computer, either as part of the Windows operating system, or as a result of software installations.

  4. Click Browse button. Go to the folder where PatAutomation.bat file is created and stored in Step 2. For example, go to D:\pat\ folder

  5. Select the PatAutomation.bat file and click Open button.

  6. Enter an appropriate name for the new schedule being created. For example, name it as PatAutomation

  7. Select Daily as the option for the Perform this task and then click Next button.

  8. Enter the time when this Windows Task Scheduler should start running in Start Time field. For example, enter current system time as Start Time.

  9. Select Every Day as the option for the Perform this task.

  10. Enter the date when this Windows Task Scheduler should start running in Start Date field. For example, enter current system time as Start Date and click Next button.

  11. Type the name and password of the user who is associated with this task.

  1. Click Next button to display the dialog box with in Formation about the choices that you have made.

  2. Select Open Advanced properties for this task when i click Finish check box (On selecting this option, Windows will display properties dialog box for the scheduled task when the Schedule Task Wizard is closed).

  3. Click Finish button to close the Schedule Task Wizard. The Schedule Properties dialog box is displayed.

  4. Click on the Settings tab and set it up as shown below.

  1. Click OK to save the Windows Task Scheduler for PatAutomation and exit schedule configuration window.

The Windows Task Scheduler is now successfully setup to perform periodic checking of whether any Assets have satisfied the service conditions from their tagged Maintenance Group or not.

For more in Formation on Change in QC on Return and Needs Service Functionality, click here.

For more in Formation on earlier QC on Return functionality (Mark Assets for Performing QC when Returned), click here.

 

This topic has been updated. For updated in Formation on Portable Appliance/Safety Testing, click here.