Digitized TOs

cobychuck · 08-20-2009 -- 09:26:56

Does anyone out there have a setup for the new digital TOs? We're working on ours and I was just curious if there is someone who has seen it up and running. Mostly I am looking for how well that works out. Also, this seems as good a time as any to start trading ideas to make for the smoothest changeover we can get.

mdbuike · 08-20-2009 -- 23:12:30

Everyone here has access to ETIMs, you are expected (required) to verify how current your CTO is, and if necessary, download/print the latest version...

Since my PC is not necessarily near where I'm calibrating, the paper copy works well.

I have heard of some bases where only the section supervisor has access to the portal or etims..seems kind of controlling, and wearing on the supervisor..but to each his own

Mike

cobychuck · 08-21-2009 -- 10:26:28

I should have been more specific in my post about what we had and what we are doing. Everyone here has access to ETIMS and the TO Viewer. We are currently working on getting laptops up and running so that we do not have to use the paper copies. We have laptops but we currently have no way of updating them because we ran out of funds before we could get the LAN drops put in. If anyone else is working on something like this, I would like to know how you are doing it, maybe see if someone has a better way of setting this up.

Grizzly · 08-21-2009 -- 14:50:32

We are using Digital TO's and I'm not a big fan. It's annoying to have to drag a laptop and a rolling desk all around the lab and of course with the LAN we can't go wireless so there are cables running everywhere. If you're working on that requires a lot of standards (spec-ans, meter calibrators, and such) you're probably used to being surrounded by equipment, but add in the lap top and desk, and you get trapped; we had a guy turn around to read his TO on the laptop and the back of his chair hit a sampling head and snapped it right at the connector.

I may be confused, but wasn't the reason for going digital only so they didn't have to send out paper copies? Where does it say you can't print out your own paper copies and store them?

The good news is that we're planning to use our controllers (we have a slew of laptops and computers that keep coming in with all of this new equipment so they're not connected to the LAN) and set up a network where one computer has all of the TO's and is hooked up to a wireless router that way we can get rid of the some cables.

There are some pros too; when you're looking for a specific phrase the Find function is really handy, and you can zoom and make the TO large so you can from across the room, and it also nice when you're using a spreadsheet, because everything is all right there.

Bryan · 08-21-2009 -- 16:49:27

schematics particularly suck when working from a computer

scottbp · 08-24-2009 -- 17:07:14

I usually pull up T.O.s I've gotten from GIDEP right on the computer at my workstation, as they are always in .pdf format. Of course, having an organized directory where all the T.O.s are stored is a must, and if someone needs a hard copy for whatever reason, I print it out for them, with instructions to when finished, file it in the file cabinet where we keep all the hard copies of T.O.s. But for huge T.O.s (e.g. for collections of various decade boxes or handheld meters on one procedure), I just print the section they need. (Of course, I know this might fly in the face of some companies who have strict policies on what's considered a controlled copy or an uncontrolled copy.)

HalAC · 08-24-2009 -- 19:29:52

Where I work at the powers to be are talking about going electronic. Instead of laptops we're looking at Amazon Kindle DX's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle

Seen a sample one so far; not impressed. First question I asked is "How well do they survive a drop to the floor?"

Winterfire2008 · 08-24-2009 -- 22:13:03

You have lap tops!!! How about a lab that has two desktop computers for ten techs?

Hawaii596 · 08-25-2009 -- 10:20:48

I like the idea of using a Kindle. Do they handle PDF's with no problem? I'm going to have to look this one up.

MRD · 08-25-2009 -- 10:37:00

We're in the process of moving the library to a digital format but it's meeting a lot of resistance. The average age of the lab is over 60 years old so the idea of schematics on LCDs doesn't fly, not like we repair anything anyways, lol. Most stuff gets BER'd now.

I pitched the idea of a Kindle for field service work but it's a pretty radical idea for some and will have to wait for new management.

If anyone does adopt the DX please keep the board posted.

WestCoastCal · 08-25-2009 -- 18:03:12

A laptop or desktop computer on a rolling cart with an external 14 key keypad that you can buy for $40 is the way to go if you have to record data. How do you record your measurements? And if via computer what application are the measurements recorded into?

scottbp · 08-26-2009 -- 17:33:37

Quote from: WestCoastCal on 08-25-2009 -- 18:03:12
A laptop or desktop computer on a rolling cart with an external 14 key keypad that you can buy for $40 is the way to go if you have to record data. How do you record your measurements? And if via computer what application are the measurements recorded into?

In the lab: Via computers connected to the network (about 25 workstations total.) In the field, when in trailers: Via computer, results upped to the network server when we return. When we're not in trailers: We print out blank data sheets, record data, then type it in when we get back. Application? Cobbled together collection of DOS Paradox databases, Excel sheets, etc. We're working on implementing MET/CAL. Ultimate goal: Look at a reading and "think" the measurement into the computer via brain probes.

griff61 · 08-26-2009 -- 22:04:07

Quote from: scottbp on 08-26-2009 -- 17:33:37
Ultimate goal: Look at a reading and "think" the measurement into the computer via brain probes.

Some places look at the equipment and think readings into existence...

CalLabSolutions · 08-27-2009 -- 00:44:28

We built a 100% web based calibration \ asset managment system for Newark Electronics. The application stores digital copies of the procedures in the database, and it tracks controlled printed copies of the proceudre.

We also added the ability to associate the documents with the make model numbers. So by simply looking up the make model you can see all the manuals and locations that cover that UUT.

The we added Work Instructions and tied them to a specific manual. So when the tech is looking at the work order they are able to see exactly what they need to do, the manual they have to use, and where they can find the manual and or procedure. If the manual a digital copy and in the database they can simply pull it up on the screen.

It really simplifies the task for the tech, and all they need is a computer with a web browser.

cobychuck · 10-22-2009 -- 13:31:10

We did come up with a solution for our electronic TOs. We'll see how well this plays out. We obtained some powerbooks (?) or something similar that will have LAN drops available throughout each section to download the TO they currently need. Until that happens though, our management was all of our digital TOs dowloaded onto a terabyte drive. Of course then we run into the problem of changes and revisions, since we are no longer really notified once they change and it is not something that will automatically update. So until we get the LAN drops, I'm not sure how it will actually work!