Counter Based Service allows estimating the next service visit for a piece of equipment based on recorded usage. This can be usage hours or distance traveled. The values can come from Fleet System Asset sensors, or manual input on Handyman Mobile using checklists. Additional values can be added in the Counter Based Service menu Plugin.
System Overview
The Counter Based Service system has 3 main components:
1. Counter definitions
The counter defines the rules for service intervals, next service value, and threshold values to indicate how close the next service is. It also defines the connection to Fleet System Assets Accumulators to be used for value retrieval.
2. Aggregated values
Each counter will receive values from the value collection system. The collection is either done via automatic fetching of live data from Fleet System Assets, using Checklist on Handyman Mobile, or manual input in the Counter Based Service screen.
3. Calculation of next service visit
The solution uses the counter definition and the collected values to estimate when the next service is due based on the usage trend.
The system creates service order with service tasks from a Service contract definition so that all rules and customer agreements is followed.
Create counter definitions for equipment
The counter definition is where the rules for service intervals and calculation rules is set up.
Priority limits define the signaling in the list of counters when the date for the next service visit is approaching. This is optional to use.
If you have Fleet System Assets, you specify the connection between the counter and the accumulator used to fetch live data.
Configure Service Contract and Service Form
To be able to generate a service order for the calculated visit, there must be a service contract where the equipment is included.
- In addition the equipment must be assigned a service form without frequency and next service date.
- This service form defines that tasks to be performed during the service visit.
The system automatically finds this combination of service schedules and equipment, and will generate a service order with all the rules defined in the contract. In this way, for example, preferred technician and order categories will be automatically filled in according to the settings in the contract.
Each counter definition on a piece of equipment can have different service schedules. In the example above, two service schedules are defined. The system will be able to link the correct service schedule to the counter by using the counter number as a suffix to the ID of the service schedule. Add "-" and the number value to the ID of the service schedule.
This way the system is able to have different service tasks for different counters on the same equipment.
This solution also makes it possible to combine Counter Based Service interval and Calendar based visits for the same equipment in the same Service Contract. For example, you can have annual inspection visits with a separate service form and a count-based maintenance setup defined in the same contract.
Retrieving counter values
Define checklist for value registration
In the list of checklist templates, you will find the checklist to be used for registering counter values.
After adding the Checklist, modify the external id like this:
CBS_COUNTERVAL
NOTE! This is necessary to make the automatic collection of values work.
Configure service for automatic retrieval of counter values
The "Counter Value Fetcher" service must be enabled to retrieve values for checklists and Fleet System resources. You must define the frequency for retrieving values. Normally, once a day is sufficient, but any frequency can be defined. When using Handyman Cloud, our support team will set this up for you.
Create order for next service
The system automatically calculates the date for the next service visit when the list is displayed.
Use the buttons in the counter list to create the service order for the next visit. The new order will follow the rules for automatic generation of service orders defined in the contract. This means that preferred technician for the equipment, order categories and other settings will be used for the created order.
The service interval will be added to the next service value so that it is ready for the next services to come.
Schedule a service visit
If you choose to postpone the service, the service interval value will be added to the next service value without creating an order.
Adjustment of collected values
Values collected with checklists or manually entered can be adjusted directly in the value list. Inspect the graph to see if the corrected value is as expected.
If a value comes from a Fleet Asset sensor, it cannot be adjusted.
How to use multiple counters on the same equipment
Some equipment may have multiple sensors that can collect usage data. Often, these equipment parts will have independent service intervals and therefore require separate counters.
You can add extra counters to a piece of equipment. Each extra counter must have a number/ID. This is used in the checklist to link the value to the correct counter.
Update the checklist used for value registration
The standard checklist has a list of default numbers from 2 to 4. It is recommended to use the same numbering for extra counters on all equipment. You can use any value, but then you should adjust the value list in the checklist.
Add the used numbers to the list of the first checklist point, so that the user can easily select the correct number/ID for value registration. The value fetcher service will use this number to connect the checklist to the correct counter on the equipment.
If you only use automatic sensor values from Fleet System, this number is not necessary.