TESCO Meter Manager and Field Client Overview
- 1. Prepared by Tom Lawton For Mid-South Electric Meter Association Meter School May 4, 2022 3:00 PM Group 4A METER MANAGER TESCO’S SOLUTION FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT, INVENTORY TRACKING AND FIELD MANAGEMENT FOR METERING SERVICES tescometering.com Slide 1
- 2. ASSET MANAGEMENT, INVENTORY TRACKING & FIELD MANAGEMENT 2 Asset Management Asset management refers to tracking unique items of value. They are often called physical assets or fixed assets. Inventory Tracking Inventory tracking refers to tracking non-unique items of value. These are often called stock or consumable items that track quantity, disposition, location… Field Management Management of any field operation (aka Work Order Management) and the ability to gather real time information about metering (or non- metering) sites Organizations strive to gain greater control and efficiencies when managing their assets tescometering.com
- 3. BENEFITS & CONSIDERATIONS 3 Business Drivers • Cost Reduction • Increased Revenue • Improved Efficiencies • Increased Traceability The system should provide the necessary knowledge both for the field worker, the shop tester and the warehouse worker to perform daily tasks and management to have product and financial insight. tescometering.com
- 4. OWNERS PERSPECTIVES, NEEDS & WANTS 4 Owners Meter Shop Field Operations Revenue Protection Administration Technology Each owner will have their own perspective and objectives for the asset/inventory management system. Ensure a 360-degree view of your organizations is represented tescometering.com
- 5. BUILD VS. BUY 5 You must consider: Creating a weighted decision matrix to qualify & quantify vendors Ensure ALL business owners are included Always remember It’s business FIRST, technology SECOND BUILD Speed to market Quality Maintenance & TCO Trade-offs SaaS On-Premise BUY Vendor’s domain knowledge & experience? Does the solution meet ALL requirements? (Gas, Electric & Water) Track record & success stories Total Cost of Ownership tescometering.com
- 6. PROJECT METHODOLOGY 6 Your vendor should realize that there is no “one-size-fits-all” that works for all business types, sizes or industries. The vendor should be ready to assist and guide you through every phase of the initiative tescometering.com
- 7. GETTING STARTED 7 Their approach should include: • An initial discovery session to understand your goals, requirements, timeline and budget • An assessment review of your existing environment, definition of project requirements, and success criteria • Defining which systems will be the “system of record” • Offer recommendations for business process improvements • Data conversion, cleansing and migration • Interfacing with other systems • Configuration, and deployment of the final solution • Product lifecycle support tescometering.com
- 8. THE PORTFOLIO LANDSCAPE 8 Billing Customer Service Meter Data Management Head-End Work Management 3rd Party Vendors & Manufacturers Accounting Test Boards tescometering.com
- 9. UTILITY 2.0 – ASSET/INVENTORY MGMT. SYSTEMS FOR METERING SERVICES 9 I will use the previous slides as a backdrop to go into details about the MM functions and highlight and emphasize the AMI impacts tescometering.com
- 10. METER SHOP & FIELD OPERATIONS 10 • Meters on the system (inventory and installed) • Meter test records (accuracy) • AQL Sample • PSC/PUC Random and Periodic Sample • Instrument transformers • Site Verification • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Tools & Instruments Traditionally Meter Service Departments have typically been tasked with tracking: tescometering.com
- 11. CHALLENGES INTRODUCED BY AMI 11 • Track both the hardware and firmware version for the meter and AMI Modules • Tracking network devices (bridges, relays, extenders…) • Ability to track functional test results as well as accuracy/demand results • Track complete site information for transformer rated customers • Seamlessly handle PPE i.e. rubber goods, tools and instruments • Deployments require robust RMA processing & tracking • Track multiple serialized devices under the cover of a single meter • Swap out and/or add additional devices at some later date to an installation • Track and update Program ID tescometering.com
- 12. TYPICAL METER LIFE-CYCLE 12 New Meter Purchase First Article Purchase Order Vendor File (device creation) Meter Receiving Acceptance Testing Device Release to Stock Used Meter Processing Meter Check-in Meter Testing Device Restocking Retirement tescometering.com
- 13. TYPICAL METER LIFE-CYCLE (CONT’D) 13 Inventory Tracking Track Inventory within shops, warehouses, storerooms, down to the container and/or shelf Track Inventory to the person or truck • Meters are assigned to the person / truck • As meters are set, they are removed from inventory • Used meters are tracked from removal to meter shop • Physical inventory counts may be performed at any time Quality management • Detailed analysis of meter performance • In-service, random sample, and periodic test plans • Full RMA tracking tescometering.com
- 14. CONFIGURABLE & CUSTOMIZABLE – OUT OF THE BOX 14 The software must be able to turn features on/off, based on security but also ensure the workflows are aligned with how your organization operates. Reference Tables • Operating Areas • Inventory Locations • Meter shops • Container types • Test Boards • Scanners Operational Tables • Item Models • Device Types • Failure Reasons • Test Types (work-orders) • Retirement Reasons • Test Sequences & Limits • Warranty Security & Users • People • Users • Roles • Modules The software must support user defined fields and customizable workflows. These are essential to minimizing disruption to existing systems tescometering.com
- 15. PARADIGM SHIFT – METER TESTING 15 AMI has fundamentally changed what is tested, recorded and tracked. Accuracy Testing is only one component FUNCTIONAL TESTING – Need to Verify Display and program ID Seals Soft switches AMI module hardware & firmware Meter hardware & firmware Master reset Communications Check Disconnect switch (if applicable) Security Check tescometering.com
- 16. AMI Inventory & Asset Management • Bridges, Range Extenders • Warranty & Battery Replacement Integration with Test Boards • WECO, RFL, KNOPP, TESCO, GAS PROVERS Kiosk workstation to accelerate meter shop & stores operations Automated Meter Manufacturing File processing Barcode scanning for managing shipments and inventory movements Configurable Workflows • Test Sequences, Tasks & Limits • Work orders & test types • Role based security Inventory Forecasting & Procurements Regulatory Compliance Reporting ADVANCING BUSINESS PROCESS OPTIMIZATION 16 tescometering.com
- 17. THE PROMISE OF AMI 17 The introduction ten years ago and the continued development of an Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) system promised more effective and more efficient Meter Service Operations. This was to be accomplished in a variety of ways starting with: • No need to read meters (if AMR had not previously been deployed) • No need to roll a truck to perform a disconnect or a reconnect • Better ability to detect and respond to outages • Better ability to detect theft • Better ability to detect (and eventually capture) unbilled energy • Better understand customer usage and make better energy buying decisions tescometering.com
- 18. WHAT DATA ARE WE GETTING AND HOW ARE WE USING IT? 18 Meter Quality Assurance: Focusing on meter reading performance enables utilities to ensure AMI reliability. For instance, when meter readings are expected but not delivered, the system takes note, and calculates overall performance statistics for the AMI system. Utilities are made privy to problems they never would have been able to identify in the past. tescometering.com
- 19. FIELD SERVICE MANAGEMENT MARKET ANALYSIS Challenges Work Order Management Dispatch and Scheduling Route Planning Manual Processes Efficiency and Productivity Real-Time Communication BYoD and usability Objectives Improved Efficiency and Operation Resource Optimization Reduce Costs Customer Satisfaction Increased Flexibility and Responsiveness Workflow Standardization Studies show that investing in field service management software yields: 25% ESTIMATED ROI 28% DECREASE IN WORK ORDER RE-SCHEDULING 36% INCREASE IN DISPATCHER PRODUCTIVITY 46% INCREASE IN TRANSPARENCY OF CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS tescometering.com 19
- 20. FIELD SERVICE MANAGEMENT – METER MANAGER FIELD CLIENT 20 Skills based work order assignment Configurable tasks for each work order and/or equipment type Schedule a technician on-the-fly and instantly notify and update their schedule for re-routing Optimized routing that recommends the best and safest route for any location with the effort to complete work order (complex / simple) factored into the schedule Works standalone and when network available reconnects automatically and syncs data Increase field work’s accuracy and efficiency through GPS tescometering.com
- 21. FIELD CLIENT DIFFERENTIATOR AND VALUE Power quality Harmonics Meter accuracy CT burden and/or accuracy testing Blind CT verification (validates CT serial numbers, without knowing the expected value) or update if incorrect Billing multiplier calculation, validation and cross- check Removal Read verification (photo) Meter compatibility verification for exchanges Automatically allow for compatible meter forms, (12S / 25S) Process different measurement types, (KWH, KW, KVar, TOU) - delivered vs received are cross- compared between the old and new meters Meter class and voltage range are checked for compatibility Metering Specific Information captured can include: Designed for touch on a tablet, also compatible with a laptop Responsive design accommodates different (mobile device) screen sizes Test Kit Agnostic One Standard GUI across all kits Single database to store all test records Bluetooth handheld scanner enabled Add OEM Testkits tescometering.com 21
- 22. FIELD CLIENT BENEFITS Field Client Console (supervisor) Field Client (technician) Verifiable tasks and actions throughout the entire lifecycle of your metering and related assets. Optimized efficiency and throughput for all field service departments with GPS mapping and routing Reduction of paper through integrated data capture from field test equipment thereby eliminating manual error prone processes Enable real-time error correction (what was expected, what was found, and what was left) Reduction in billing errors Reduction in truck rolls and other wasted effort Creates the work (devices and where they need to be installed) Prioritizes (automatic) Assigns the work Auto scheduling (if wanted) Auto routing (if wanted). Start from home or office Tracks the work progress by task step completion Manage your costs by having more visibility and transparency over all your data and operations. tescometering.com 22
- 23. UTILITY’S COMMON CHALLENGES Revenue Protection Missing Inventory Regulatory Compliance Effectively manages site verification work – especially Commercial and Industrial accounts 23 Increased Return on Investment in Assets Controlled Spend Mitigated Compliance Risks Easy to use, intuitive, metering-centric software designed for utilities and their workflows TESCOMeterManagerandtheFieldClientManager: SolvesEverydayProblemsandAddsValue–everyday • TESCO Meter Manager Asset Management - For Every Asset Under Management • TESCO Field Client Module – for effective management of the largest C&I accounts as well as the effective management of special field projects and deployments tescometering.com
- 24. 24 AMI will end a century of metering tescometering.com
- 25. 25 tescometering.com QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION Tom Lawton President tom.lawton@tescometering.com TESCO – The Eastern Specialty Company Bristol, PA 215-228-0500 This presentation can also be found under Meter Conferences and Schools on the TESCO website: tescometering.com ISO 9001:2015 Certified Quality Company ISO 17025:2017 Accredited Laboratory
Editor's Notes
- #3: In the past we had Corporate asset management systems that originated on the financial side of the business and we had meter record systems that handled all metering test results. Between the two we would have all of our bases covered. As organizations bring inventory into their warehouses they are concerned with where product is stored, how it is distributed to locations and customers, how to track units sold, and when to replenish inventory
- #4: Cost Reduction—Optimize inventory, reduce shrinkage, and lower labor costs Increased Revenue—Reduce out-of-stock SKUs, better monitor sales trends to optimize sales revenue Improved Efficiencies—Increased accuracy, reduction of data entry errors, and automated data collection to provide real-time monitoring Increased Traceability —Gain greater insight into key aspects of your organization Identify your organization’s objectives—What do you want to track? How do you want it managed? What systems should be integrated into your solution? Develop a site survey and technology plan—Understand that asset and inventory data will need to be collected and analyzed in order to determine the right solution. Create a pilot program—If asset management and inventory tracking technology is new to your organization, it is often recommended to pilot your solution in a small area of your organization. Piloting will help you to refine requirements and better understand the components needed
- #7: Choose the methodology that will deliver the most value, with the least impact on those delivering it. We will evaluate organizational goals, the constraints and dependencies, risks involved, the project size, cost, and of course, the complexity of the project.
- #14: Level to which we can track inventory… What level… Shop, employee, vehicle…
- #15: Purpose built platforms continuously get enhanced/improved from usage and needs. Subsequent installations… One need becomes a core module. User defined tasks and fields.
- #17: Measurement Systems,