Machine diagnostics and Toughbook
Quite simply, machine diagnostics is a critical support process for many businesses and organisations in many sectors. But whatever the sector, the aim of the technician carrying out the diagnostics is always the same:
- Find the problem
- Fix it fast
- Fix it right, first time
It could be a process carried out in a workshop or dedicated diagnostic facility, where heat, dust and humidity are constant challenges.
Equally, however, diagnostics are carried out in the field, where access to systems and data, and the elements, become the greatest challenges.
Check-in – if we take automotive diagnostics as an example, the point of checking-in the vehicle can create a major barrier to efficiency in the diagnostic process, especially during the highly pressurized peak morning period.
Triage – staying in the automotive sector, ‘triage’ is when cars are distributed to technicians for repair. But while cars are ideally assigned to mechanics with the right skill-sets, it’s not always easy without the right technical information backing up the initial diagnosis.
Primary diagnostic – if the triage stage has been carried out properly, this stage of the process can be managed efficiently. If not, the primary diagnostic becomes more time consuming.
Parts delivery – technicians in every sector need the right parts to do the job properly. So if the wrong part is ordered or delivered, there is a major impact on time, cost and productivity.
Extended support – if a technician can’t fix a problem on the spot, they need to refer to external support. This becomes a problem if that support isn’t immediately available.
Confirm repair – testing and confirming that a repair has successfully been carried out can be time consuming. So it’s often a stage of the process that’s missed. But missing this stage can have the greatest impact on customer satisfaction.
Toughbooks are designed and built by people who understand how diagnostic companies make their money – through repeat business from customers who are satisfied with the service they receive.
So we understand how critical it is to equip your technicians with tools that allow them to get the job right, first time, every time.
Critically, Toughbooks combine with diagnostic systems to allow technicians to complete three diagnostics in the time it usually takes to do one. How? By combining military-grade wireless connectivity, an unrivalled ability to operate in challenging environments and integrated peripherals such as RFID and barcode readers.
- An initial diagnostic can be carried out during triage – so the right machine is assigned to the right technician.
- The normal diagnostic is carried out more efficiently, as it focuses on the issues raised during the triage stage.
- The final, confirmation diagnostic takes place, ensuring that the job has been done properly, the customer won’t need further work carried out, and their levels of satisfaction will be absolutely optimised.
There is, however, one more fundamental benefit of using Toughbooks in the diagnostics process. It’s a simple fact that the process is often most limited by space or location. After all, it isn’t always possible to carry out the work on the most suitable premises – machines are located in a vast range of settings, many of which present significant barriers to the use of technology.
But Toughbooks are different. With long-range wireless, outdoor viewable screens, convertible form factors and unrivalled durability, they’re built specifically to work outside or in hostile environments. So wherever the machines are located, Toughbooks go with the technician and perform every necessary function.
