REDUCING FIELD OPERATIONAL COST USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION INTEGRAL SYSTEM Mr. Luciano Azpiazu IBERDROLA DISTRIBUCIÓN ELECTRICA, S.A.U. SPAIN luciano.azpiazu@iberdrola.es Ms. Gotzone Belarrínaga, Mr. Roberto Aurrecoechea IBERDROLA, S.A.U. Spain g.belarrinaga@iberdrola.es r.aurrecoechea@iberdrola.es 1. INTRODUCTION Distribution activities are currently being developed in the field, out of doors, not only the core business but the subcontracted as well, which are growing continuously. Field activities are normally subcontracted. These activities are mainly collecting data, updating, data maintenance, as the subcontractor s cost is lower and at the same time workers need no specialised training and experience. In distribution, we have a limit for work planning due to the interference of external factors (commercial agreements, breakdowns, rights of way, permissions, procedures, ) and the only solution for cost reduction is improving the short-term planning in order to increase field work productivity and efficiency. Improving efficiency is IBERDROLA s target, and we are involved in the MOVILCOM project: - At the level of the Work Order Manager Centre: optimising the load curve for all workers, employees and subcontractors. - At individual level: optimising the work for every (portable digital assistant) including georreferences(?) and access to the work zone, avoiding mistakes and increasing individual efficiency. At the same time, we are working and have developed external access to Cis mainly oriented to meter installation that will be detailed in this document. 2. ISSUES OF THE MOVILCOM PROJECT - Define, design and implement the new System, named MOVILCOM oriented to exploitation, aid, helping managers and field workers, allowing: * Optimise activities to be developed by the Work Order Manager Centres (WOMC) and Mobile Workers (MW). * Automate the information between WOMC and MW. Generate and introduce improvements in all the processes related to fieldwork. - Guarantee a real reduction in management and operation. - Improve the MW working environment. - Use an innovative work method according to a new brand image. - Increase the quality of supply (time and quality) for the customers. 3. DESCRIPTION OF MOVILCOM - Design and development of a Corporate work environment among WOMC and MW and also among MW themselves, focused on a platform offering added value services. - MOVILCOM will be designed on the basis of a generic perspective, in modules, to be easily adapted to different clients and requirements. - MOVILCOM will be validated in advance before being manufactured. 3.1 MOVILCOM Architecture ( components) - Hardware Tactile screen in the, wireless communication modules and GPS hardware. - Work OrderManager module It allows each MW to manage the works assigned, consult them and report the work done locally and at the WOMC. IBE_Lago_A2 Session 6 Paper No 60-1 -
- Localisation module It will control the GPS and inform to the WOMC about the location. - Wireless communication manager module. 3.2 WOMC Functionality - Localisation and work assignment to the MW. - On-line and in real-time knowledge of the work status of every MW. - Upload and download the information to MW. 3.3 MW Functionality - Work assigned status reports. - On-line communication with WOMC about work status. - Answer to MW. 3.4 Global functionality Oriented to Queries and exchanging information and messages among WOMC and MW. - GIS Module It contains the cartography and location position sent by the, and represents the location on the screen. - Work order-scheduling module It helps in MW scheduling and assignment with different optimisation criteria: Minimise operation time and cost, for maintenance. Minimise time between works, for construction and meter installation. - Upload and download module 4. DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY The project presents a high innovative level: - Design, implementation and validation of a new working environment for the MW of industrial companies and utilities based on. - We will offer a quick and interesting solution for a common problem within different companies, at a reasonable cost and validated previously by two users. * We will demonstrate the availability of s to operate in industrial environments. * The solution is opened and can be integrated with new services for MOMC and MW. 5. THE MOVILCOM CONSORTIUM This project is sponsored by the Basque Government (INTEK) and the members of the consortium are: SISTEPLANT, Project leader with experience and capacity to develop solutions to manage industrial maintenance (PRISMA). GIROA, leader in building maintenance and pilot test user. IBERDROLA, electric utility and test user.. RVT: ROBOTIKER, developer of solutions and a member of the Technology Basque Network (R&D). Supervisor - Planning and control - Management Control Equipment Wiseless (GSM, GPRS, UMTS) Mobile Workers GPS Location GPS Data Base Centralized Historical GIS Documents Figure 1 - Reports - Assignment IBE_Lago_A2 Session 6 Paper No 60-2 -
6. MOVILCOM PROJECT PHASES Phase 1 - Specification (4 months) Requirement User, Functional Specifications of the global system, Functional Specifications of each module and Initial documents about the industrialisation plan. Phase 2 - Design and Implementation (12 months). Construction, Integration and test, Prototype and Up-dating document of the industrialisation plan. Phase 3 - Installation and test (8 months). Test plan, installation and test in the two users. 7. COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND EXPLOI- TATION PLAN 7.1 Prize policy for MOVILCOM (Euros) 2003 2004 2005 2006 Sales (licenses) 80 130 200 350 Income 120.000 195.000 300.000 525.000 TOTAL SALES 138.000 224.250 345.000 603.750 Expenses 18.000 27.000 36.000 54.000 NET BENEFIT 120.000 197.250 30.900 549.750 Accumulated Benefits 1.176.000 7.2 Economical analysis and exploitation plan - A small and minimal automation existed at IBERDROLA, generating slowness, increasing cost, physical presence of workers at Headquarters to pick up the W.O., and finally a non equitable and inefficient itinerary.. - More demanding regulation times and quality levels. - Internal target of reduction cost. - More liberalised environment. - More productivity by scheduling W.O. and improving itineraries. - Quicker access to the work location. - Better image for the customer, eliminating mistakes and defaults. - Personal safety improvement. - Quality guarantee in data collection and process. 8. CONCLUSIONS OF THE MOVILCOM - Eliminating dead time in field work is the basis to reduce the global cost mainly in locating the area and improving efficiency due to a better scheduling. - Industrial technology is allowable, but has to be adapted to the users. - The success key is to obtain expertise in planning depending on the typology of the different business and according to the increasing demands of the customers regarding time and quality. - Using low cost equipment allows to change old procedures, but the support of the CEO has to be active and permanent, including a training plan. - The development focused on industrial products, depending on the state-of-the-art (GPRS, UTMS, TETRA, other s). 9. CIS REMOTE ACCESS 9.1 The goals The main goal is to allow the remote access from their offices to Iberdrola s Customer Information System, and the subcontractors without them having to come to Iberdrola s offices.. At the same time, it contributes to two main improvements: The management of the assigned work order is made easier, and eliminates the risk of labour problems with the external people working in our offices in close contact with Iberdrola s personnel. 9.2 Background The integration of different processes as: meter installation, administrative supply interruption, and restoration in a unique organisation means a number of 1.200.000 work orders a year, subcontracting 350 employees and 6.7 millions euros. Such integration has identified the following different synergies: - Similar territorial subcontracting characteristics to construction and maintenance. - Identical tool to manage work orders inside the CIS. - Utilisation of similar. It s very important to remember that Iberdrola subcontracts 70 % of the total amount of these works (60 % in meter installation and 90 % in administrative meter interruption and restoration). 9.3 Project description IBE_Lago_A2 Session 6 Paper No 60-3 -
- Creation of Work Order Management Centre (WOMC). In CIS, 33 WOMCs were created, corresponding to the different subcontracting territories. The WOMC is transparent for Iberdrola s employees, and allows the subcontractors a global and integral management of the work orders, because a very large number of WO could be managed covering the whole process. In a parallel way, our organisation may track and audit this management and the work really carried out.. This implementation allows: Scheduling, checking and work batch organisation customer appointment agreement and work order supervision. As a complement of this decentralisation, the subcontractor informs daily (normally by phone) about possible incidents in the scheduling, justifying the work not executed and reflecting all other irregularities. In order to control this work, we also use Field Execution Controls applying the procedures recorded in our certified 9001:2000 ISO. We supervise safety and security aspects, technical and environmental procedures and the relationship with the end customer and the whole process as well. Of course, the functionality of these WOMCs are more limited, forbidding the access to determined modules and data records of the CIS to guarantee the confidentiality of customer information. - CIS remote access by INTERNET Once the WOMC is operating, to connect it to Iberdrola s host we use a Metaframe server, placed in Iberdrola s computer centre and connected to the CIS application in the host. At the subcontractor s facilities, a PC with special client software and an ADSL line are installed. - CIS remote access from the using the basic phone network Another step has been to allow the download of the, Iberdrola s property, but being used by the subcontractors, using the basic phone network, by modems, with phone receptors installed in Iberdrola s offices. This development allows to be downloaded or loaded from different territorial phone connections, including the subcontractor, employee and residential house. This improvement is also used by Iberdrola employees working in distant centres as no CIS direct connection is required. - CIS remote access from the using GSM Another alternative being used is based on GSM, normally utilised in restoration and for downloading of the work executed from remote locations. An improvement allows to activate or deactivate the GSM connection, directly in the, according to a personal decision made by the field worker in order to improve the battery duration, which is the main problem of the current technology. Every worker can choose when and where the workload reception has to be developed according to his routing and workload status. With these functions, the are more qualified terminals improving the performance of the old equipment. Continuously, we are studying, testing and checking the state-of-the-art technology in the communication aspects and market trends. According with this, we have changed to Pocket PC as an operative system and are developing a new module on GPRS. - New maintenance system for the We have mentioned that all belong to Iberdrola, but the maintenance is organised in two steps: - A basic (first level) maintenance by the user (subcontractor). - A specialised maintenance, that is Iberdrola s responsibility and managed by outsourcing. The contact is executed by the WOMC manager with the outsourcer directly. IBE_Lago_A2 Session 6 Paper No 60-4 -
9.4 GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE SYSTEM HOST AIX Cis Data Base FTP Communications Server Server NAT Metaframe Serve PC IBERDROLA Receptor PC Sucontractor Internet MODEM GSM BASIC PHONE NETWORK 9.5 ANALISYS COST/BENEFIT OF THE DEVELOPMENT The main benefit is to allow the recording, downloading and audit of all the work order management from a remote location. But also, we are working in a routing optimisation module to make the scheduling to nonspecialised in-field crews easier, and at the same time, compare productivity and lower the individual prices. The conception of the system allows it to be exported to other countries, such as Brazil or Argentina with very long distances and only a few operative centres. From the costs point of view we want to mention: - Metaframe access using INTERNET. * The cost is 1600 /year by PC including the entire necessary framework.the Internet cost has to be added (access and consumption). * The unitary cost of the necessary modem cards for transmission are 360. 9.6 REMOTE ACCESS AND GLOBAL CONCLUSIONS - The remote access permits a global and whole management of the work for the subcontractors, avoiding labour risks consequence of the job proximity s in Iberdrola. - All the improvements derived from the utilisation are obtained. - It is idoneus for other activities and processes where the big distance is a limitation (Brazil, ). - We will continue working in these two aspects of the process because in a way we optimise the in field work and we also work independent of the territory, distance or the subcontractor s management criteria. - connection using basic phone network. IBE_Lago_A2 Session 6 Paper No 60-5 -