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FleetMaintenance_July_2016

| Light Duty PITFALL #4: “We’ll get the maintenance stuff planned fi rst and come back to the accounting stuff afterward.” If any data will be passed from maintenance to your business system(s), this should be considered as part of your plan. Payroll, payables, receivables and cost accounting frequently consume maintenance/ cost data. Even if the connection will be a second phase of the implementation, it’s good to identify the strategy up front so that the proper considerations are put into your new maintenance system. For example, if diff erent VMRS part codes will map to GL (general ledger codes) in your accounting system, it’s best to have that planned so your inventory can be coded properly when it is set up. A solid library of fl exible, out-of-the-box reports is a must for a good maintenance product. Learning about them and how to use them should be a keystone of your training program. However, if you are replacing an existing system, there may be certain reports or management tools that are used throughout your organization. In some cases, it may be easier to recreate a few such reports in your new system in addition to the standard reports. If this is the case, be sure that your maintenance partner has included creation of these custom reports for you in their scope. Of course, the fact that you “always did it that way” may not mean it’s the best way. Work with your maintenance partner to determine the best path forward. Remember, reports, dashboards and analysis tools that help you track and understand KPI’s and other business metrics are one of the main reasons to invest in soft ware in the fi rst place. PITFALL #5: “We spent a lot of time on this plan. Now we just need to follow it to the letter.” Having built a great plan is a huge plus, but you need to be aware that some things will not go according to the script. Also, since being involved in a project may be new to some on your team, you need to have regular reviews at each step of the process. You will need to be fl exible without compromising the important elements of your strategy that you worked hard to develop. By this point in the process, your soft ware should be up and running. If your plan addressed the issues identifi ed earlier, this stage mostly should involve loading data because the decisions have already been made. You will make some decisions on the fl y, but this is where your plan pays dividends. • Initial data. In loading the initial data for your fl eet operation, you will need information on the vehicles and equipment, vendors for service or parts and your parts that you keep on hand. Th ere are two ways in which to populate your master data into a new system. One is by manually entering information and the other is to import the data from spreadsheets. Both ways works and both options have merit. Th e decision typically depends on the quantity and quality of your data. • Users. Set up users according to your organization and plan. If necessary, adjust individual user permissions as needed. • Maintenance parameters. Set up mainte- Grey-Rock Passes Reduced Stopping Distance Requirements Then and Now. Fleets today can have peace of mind that the same trusted Grey-Rock GR2015 and GG2020 friction products meet Reduced Stopping Distance requirements.* The consistent performance and high quality of GR2015 and GG2020 legacy products reduce wear and extend life cycles of brake related parts for 20,000 and 23,000 axle ratings, respectively. And, by providing one material that works for both the tractor and trailer, Grey-Rock helps to simplify inventories. Be sure it’s Grey-Rock, the brand that has passed the test of time. Haldex.com 800-643-2374 - US 800-267-9247 - Canada *Track tests performed Transportation Research Center Inc. HEAVY DUTY TRUCK C O D E S C A N N E R – C L A S S 4 - 8 Fast. Powerful. Portable. Easy To Use. The CR-HD PLUS is the perfect tool for diagnosing and clearing heavy duty diagnostic trouble codes. It covers J1587, J1708 and J1939 protocols (Class 4 through Class 8) for accessing Engine, Transmission, Brakes and more. Also includes Generic/ Global OBD-II 16 PIN communication–Modes 1-10. It features a 2.8” full color LCD display and is ergonomic, highly portable and easy to use. VehicleServicePros.com/10121485 VehicleServicePros.com/10094390 1-877-528-6249 www.launchtechusa.com 1820 S. Milliken Ave. Ontario, CA 91761 CR-HD Plus Now with OBD-II Communication Modes 1-10 THE CR-HD PLUS FROM LAUNCH. BRINGING 20 YEARS OF AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS EXPERTISE INTO HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. Storage Bag with 6 & 9 pin connectors included 26 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ JULY 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com


FleetMaintenance_July_2016
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