05 March 2003 00:00 East Midlands Electricity introduces revolutionary new technology
New state-of-the-art technology brought in by East Midlands Electricity (EME) will help the company offer local people improved service and quicker response, while also improving safety.
As part of a landmark project in the UK electricity industry, EME has introduced pentablet computers which are helping to increase the efficiency of working practices, reduce the time taken to respond to incidents and cut down the number of minutes customers are off supply.
The pentablet computers hold details of all of the company's overhead and underground network and give staff instant access to all the information they need when working remotely.
Previously, staff would have had to return to base between each job to collect the necessary paperwork and details of the next job.
But, by using the wireless computers, they can receive forms via e-mail, update electronic job folders as work is completed, access the corporate intranet and use a geographic information system to locate their next job.
Richard Macgowan, Project Manager at EME, said: "This state-of-the-art technology is a real breakthrough for our field staff. Having this sort of information at their fingertips makes their lives easier, helps them to work safely and improves the service we can offer to customers.
"Using the computer is like an etch-a-sketch, field staff are able to update maps as work is carried out, as well as add voice tags to the maps to explain what has been done to the network in that area."
A key objective of the project was to develop technology that would be easier to use than a home VCR. Employees were given the pentablet to trial and fed back comments.
"The staff had never used this kind of technology at work before, so it was vital that we designed a very simple application - one that is both easy to understand and quick to use," said Richard Macgowan.
"The staff told us what they liked and what they thought could be improved, such as the shape of the screen.
"Choices were made on practicality, not cost, and all field staff have welcomed the new technology."
Ian Bowles, a high voltage cable jointer working in Hinckley, said: "The pentablet is making life a lot easier for us. Before, there used to be a lot of toing and froing and if you got called out to an emergency in the middle of the night, you had to go to the depot first to get the right maps, or call out somebody else to bring them to you. Now you can just go straight out to the site and start work.
"When we first started trying them out, word got round and the people who hadn't got one were feeling left out! Now, we all wonder how we ever managed without them."
By the end of February 2003, 220 pentablets will have been issued to field staff, including overhead linesman, cable jointers and electrical fitters.
Over the next six months, paper based systems will be transferred into electronic data and regular training sessions will be provided for staff as the technology evolves.
Ends
Notes to editors
EME is providing 220 teams with Fujitsu 3500 stylistic pentablets.
EME is working with Syntegra on this project.
Staff will have access to a helpdesk, and IT support will be available at all sites.
Staff have been given docking stations and a phone line at home to charge up the pentablets, as well as training sessions.
For further information and pictures contact:
Janet Morrow on 024 7642 5779