Who has had to deal with the paperless TO's and how is it working for you? We haven't done it yet but they are working on it. We have the laptops in the building and are working on getting on the network.
We're right where you are, hoover35, in this process. Getting the network up and working (perhaps wireless in the near future) is the easiest of problems so far. The issue of getting the various CPINs and Auto-TOs installed under these Vista machines are posing the greatest obstacle. Will let you know how it goes, and hope to hear how it's working for you.
We were going to use Kindles, but the Air Force said we could not since they have a wireless link in them. According to the AF we are not allowed to use any kind of wireless network device on base. We are to use laptops that are updated every morning prior to the start of our shift. At this time we are still using paper T.O.'s.
Big problem I see at the present is keeping things up to date. Yesterday and today I was unable to access ETIMS. Seems they are having server problems. Had to defer two items due to lack of current T.O.'s.
We're still working on getting the LAN drops installed in order to be able to use the paperless side of this system. Right now all we're doing is printing out TOs as they are needed, emptying the folders of those TOs that have been replaced by more current versions. It's a pain to deal with and I would really like to get rid of all our paper copies. It would make our annual review a lot easier!
So will you be caching all the current TOs to a local drive for those times when ETIMS goes down? It's been several days without access this week. And as MTOs are being scanned and made WA, how easily do you think the transition will be from having that nice hardcopy laid out, tracing paths, compared to scrolling around on the smaller screen? Just a few things we've been thinking about as we slowly move to a paperless lab as well. . . .
Actually, we do have a drive with all the TOs that we were on ID for. It does make things easier when ETIMS goes down, like it has been recently.
As far as the foldouts, that is going to be a royal pain in the a$$. Now we have to try and follow the path while scrolling around the circuit diagram. Yeah, thats not going to go well.
Just curious, about how much space you looking at here? Does your TODO keep them current on a day-by-day basis? Or only when the technician notes a change? I'm not sure if we could get the space from Comm, depends on much we're asking for, I guess. :) So no big hassles so far?
Don't forget that you have access to DOD MIDAS at the Navy METCAL website that also has many K-pros available, however if it's a recent change it will not be up to date. Though many older, two, three months etc will be available there.
I am a Site Manager in an AF PMEL. Paperless is nice in theory, but the poblems with ETIMS made me change my mind. I was leaning heavily towards doing away with the paper TOs, but ETIMS is a disaster lately and has caused me to rethink my earlier desire to go paperless.
Quote from: Topheth on 02-24-2010 -- 19:33:36
Just curious, about how much space you looking at here? Does your TODO keep them current on a day-by-day basis? Or only when the technician notes a change? I'm not sure if we could get the space from Comm, depends on much we're asking for, I guess. :) So no big hassles so far?
Our drive is a USB Terabyte drive, so we don't have to ask Comm for space. Right now I am trying to catch up on updating the drive due to a flaw in our process, but for the most part, it works fairly well when ETIMS is down.
We've taken another step toward going paperless. This week the IT people came in and replaced our desktops with some el cheapo Dell laptops with little bitty 10" screens. What a joke. These actually take up more real estate than the desk tops did due to they are using a docking station, external monitor and keyboard.
Another problem we have come up with going "paperless" is what about AFTO 57's and 22's? With our paper T.O.s we keep a 57 stapled to the inside of the folder for that particular T.O. We also put a copy of the 22 worksheet in there when we submit one to AFMETCAL for approval.
How are we to address these forms in a paperless environment?
I would like to see them on an iPad.. I am not a apple geek, but I here tell they can run for 10 hours, small light weight. That or a kindle from amazon.
I think paperless is a good idea, with the right technologies. A manual on the computer screen you are trying to do work on is not a good idea.