Freeway Fleet Systems will showcase its latest developments in fleet maintenance data analytics at the forthcoming ALBUM Conference in Cheshire during April, including a ‘standard times’ calculation service.
That offering uses what the supplier says are advanced computer algorithms and machine learning to arrive at a standard time for every type of job, from replacing a filter to completing a major service.
Such a capability has come about through many fleet engineers being issued with mobile devices, which generate “a plethora” of data including that on task completion, Freeway continues.
Standard times calculations will allow engineering managers to see how team members perform. From that intelligence, decisions can be made on which technician to assign to certain tasks, any that require additional training, and, potentially, the offer of performance incentives.
The supplier adds that the calculator delivers insight that engineering managers previously did not have, “and is very useful for assessing and improving productivity.”
Performance tracking can be applied wherever data is collected, and hence it does not apply solely to staff; the return of vehicles and parts can also be assessed. The Freeway system also records when components were fitted and replaced.
That data can be matched to parts brands, vehicle types, vehicle ages, and engineers that have completed the job. Such data analytics also helps stock replenishment, as the system can predict optimal minimum and maximum levels and automate reordering based on usage.
Speaking about the standard times development, Freeway Fleet Systems Managing Director Patrick Tandy says: “It is easy to forget that labour is one of the costliest elements of running a fleet. And it is the most difficult cost to judge – and to control.
“One big benefit of switching to digital working is that devices also record when an engineer starts and finishes a task. So, it seemed obvious to develop software to make use of this intelligence.”
