Methos Talk

Methos Full Service

2011-12-15T07:21:00.000-08:00

Rippe & Kingston offers a Full Service option in addition to our basic help desk services, which are already part of your Yearly Maintenance. This affordable option frees you and your staff to do other tasks within the facility. Allow R&K personnel to assist with data entry, PM Task Setup and Generation, Work Order Completion, Data Analysis or any other Methos related task that your personnel do not have time to do. This service could be the most affordable way to ensure all the work being done inside the facility is being recorded. You only pay for the time you use; no overhead costs.

Contact us for details on this service.

Methos On-Line (Hosted Solution)

2011-11-28T06:56:00.000-08:00

All companies are looking at ways to cut costs and headaches. One such solution for this would include having Rippe & Kingston host the Methos Maintenance application for you. Methos would run on R&K’s server and your users would access the application via the Internet. This saves your company the cost of the server and the personnel to maintain it (upgrades, backups, administration, etc).

Even if you are already running Methos on your own server today, this could be an option for the future. Your existing data could be restored to an R&K server and your users would not miss a beat.

If you are interested in learning more about this option or any other service, please contact Rippe & Kingston.

Downtime Tracking

2011-10-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

Are you tracking Downtime for the various machines within your facility? If not, this option could give you much needed data about how much production time is being lost. Within Methos you have the option to track Downtime at both the WO Step and WO Header levels.

Requiring Downtime to be entered would allow you to summarize one field to show the time lost for a given line or the entire facility. This would also provide a vehicle to compare against Labor Hours to ensure all proper Labor Costs are being captured.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact R&K.

Faster Processing within Methos

2011-07-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

There have been several enhancements to Methos over the past couple of releases that should decrease the time needed for your technicians to enter their work into Methos. Some of these include:

Quick Work Order Completion from Work Order Maintenance

- Entering of Parts, Notes, Time

Quick Work Order Create

- Fewer fields to create a Work Order
Request

Quick Work Order Create/Completion

- Used for "after the fact" Work Order
Creation and Completion

MR Issue during Work Order Completion processing

- Work Order Completion will prompt for MR Line Issues if an MR is associated

If you would like to discuss these options or anything else that is in the current version of Methos, please contact R&K.

Methos 16.0 has been Released

2011-06-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

The new version of Methos has been made available for general release. Some of the changes include:

PM Task Triggers at the Step Level - This change allows for creating a single PM Task with 4 steps to handle the yearly Preventative Maintenance for a machine. Each step has its own Due Date and Frequency and the steps can combine as the Due Dates sync up.

            - Step 1 could be the Monthly processing.

            - Step 2 could be the Quarterly processing.

            - Step 3 could be the Semi-annual processing.

            - Step 4 could be the Annual processing.

Initiate PM Tasking Run by Parent Equipment ID - This change allows for Sourcing just the PM Tasks for Equipment of a single Parent (LINE ONE for example).

Mandatory Processing in Quick WO Complete - The new Quick WO Processing from WO Maintenance (option 39) allows for Techs to quickly enter Time, Parts and Notes. Methos can now make certain options (Notes for example) mandatory entry so a Tech cannot skip a step.

To learn more about the enhancements in this Methos Release, contact Rippe & Kingston.

Methos Training

2011-05-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Are you or your staff in need of a refresher course with Methos? This could be for a specific process or an entire system overview. Web meetings allow for short sessions (1 - 2 hours) with no travel costs; you just need a PC with an Internet connection and a couple of free hours.

There have been a lot of enhancements to Methos over the past couple of years and some of these processes could save your staff time and money. If you are interested in a refresher course, please contact R&K to schedule a time.

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

This time of year brings up the topic of Spring Cleaning. This not only applies to home and yard, but also to your Maintenance Storeroom. This is a great time to run a Methos Usage Report to see if there are parts in your Storeroom that are not being used. These parts take up space and also tie up Maintenance dollars.

If a part has not been used in 12/18/24 months, is it really necessary?

If a part is rarely used, why are you stocking 20 of them?

These parts can either be turned back into their respective Vendors or possibly sold (sites like eBay and other on-line resellers can assist with moving out old inventory). These funds can then be used for current needs within the Maintenance department.

If you have questions or would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact R&K.

PM Task Email on Sourcing to a Work Order

2011-04-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

To go along with the standard Emailing of all Work Orders based on Work Order Status (or instead of), there is now a PM Task Emailing feature. This process allows the PM Task Maintenance Supervisor to identify exactly who should be emailed when a given PM Task is Sourced to a Work Order. This can be one email address or as many as desired.

When the Methos Initiate PM Tasking Run triggers the PM Task, or if it is Sourced individually, the PM Email file will be checked to see if emails need to be sent.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact R&K.

March Madness

2011-03-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

With the NCAA Basketball Tournament about to begin, we are actively filling out our brackets of which teams we think are the best and who the ultimate champion will be. Within your Maintenance Department, which machines are your best (cost/repair wise) and which are not? If you compared your machinery one to another, which ones are out-performers?

- Can you prove your assumptions with actual Work Order data?
- Which machines keep going and going with only PM work being performed?
- Which machines seem to require a weekly “tweak” to keep them performing?

Do you have 2 machines from different manufacturers that do the same job? If so, which manufacturer would you buy from if you had to replace one of the existing machines? What data would you base this decision on?

Methos gives you the ability to answer these questions about your maintenance machinery and costs. You do not have to guess which machines are actually costing you the most.

If you would like to discuss Methos in more detail, please contact R&K.

Methos Group Work Order Processing

2011-02-14T09:10:00.000-08:00

With the Release of Methos 15.0, you are now able to associate multiple pieces of Equipment to a single Work Order. In the past, a Work Order had to be assigned a single Equipment ID. With this new process, you can record Time and Part Costs against a single Work Order and have it divided up across the multiple Equipment IDs at Work Order Completion time. This process allows for easier and quicker recording of Tasks like "Inspect all Exit Doors." This can now be a single Work Order instead of five or six Work Orders.

Please contact Rippe & Kingston to discuss this feature of Methos in more detail.

Controlling Labor Costs

2011-02-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

Are you tracking your labor costs to ensure that overtime is not being abused? If not, Methos can assist with tracking how much time is being spent by your Plant Technicians and where time is being spent. You will be able to see who is working more than 40 hours a week and what they are working on. Then you can start asking the techs questions such as, "Why did you work 2 hours over on that task?" or "Why is it taking you 4 hours to do a machine lubrication?"

Methos gives you the ability to see how many hours are being worked by each technician so you can work to better control costs. Sometimes overtime is warranted, but there are patterns of when it spikes (end of the year, prior to birthdays or vacations, etc).

Contact R&K if you are interested in learning more about Methos.

Methos 15.0 Has Been Released

2010-12-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

The latest release of Methos (version 15.0) has been released. Some of the changes included in this version are:

Group Work Order

MR Line Unallocate from Window Issue

Both Methos & Infinium Purchasing

Quick PM Task Text Entry

To learn more about the enhancements in this Methos Release, contact Rippe & Kingston.

Audit and Compliance Troubles?

2010-11-16T06:58:00.000-08:00

Are government or industrial audits costing your company in fines or work stoppages?
How is your company able to document that procedures and policies are being followed?
Are potential safety violations being addressed in a timely manner?

With Methos Maintenance from Rippe & Kingston Systems, you have the ability to schedule and record all compliance work that occurs at your facility. You are able to document that policies and procedures are being followed by your staff. You can ensure that critical inspections are not forgotten.

Using the Methos Maintenance Preventative Maintenance, Standard Job, and Work Order modules, a Plant Manager can schedule and track all the work being done at the facility. PM Tasks keep critical tasks from being missed. Standard Jobs ensure that all procedures get documented and are not up to the individual technicians to remember. Active and Historical Work Orders provide the ability to log all work performed along with when, by whom, and at what cost.

Sometimes doing nothing is the most expensive thing you can do.

Yearly Spare Parts Review

2010-11-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

Do you review your Spare Parts Inventory on a regular basis? If not, this is a great way to possibly reduce costs within the Maintenance Department. You can evaluate which parts are actually being used, and how often, to see if you really need to stock 25 of that $700 part.

Are there parts that you are constantly buying only when needed, but seem to be needing every couple weeks? If so, you might want to stock this item and start buying it in bulk to get a volume discount. Are you looking at total Vendor spending to try and get better pricing? Are you able to move more purchases to a particular Vendor to reach a discount plateau or preferred customer level?

These are a few things that Methos can assist you with tracking. By researching your usages patterns within the application, you can help drive down costs within the facility.

To discuss this further, please contact Rippe & Kingston at 513-977-4564.

Warranty Tracking Saves Money

2010-10-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Setting up the Warranty Information in the Methos Equipment Module can save you money and aggravation. Methos allows companies to track items still under warranty and warns them before they make repairs and can void a manufacturer’s warranty. Companies can also track Preventative Maintenance work on a piece of equipment to show that it was properly maintained in case problems arise. No one wants to explain to their boss why they have to pay for a piece of equipment twice because of “clerical type” errors.

To learn more about how Methos can assist you with Tracking Equipment Warranties, contact Rippe and Kingston or give us a call at 513.977.4564.

Material Request Adjustment

2010-10-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever needed to use a part from your Methos Storeroom but it was allocated to a Material Request? If so, the new Material Request Adjust option makes this easier to do. Previously, you would have to adjust the MR Line Quantity (or delete the line) to free up the quantity on the shelf for issue.

Now, you can adjust the MR Line Allocated Quantity from within the Window Issue processing. This makes the process faster and eliminates any errors from changing the MR manually.

This change will be released in the upcoming version of Methos, which is due out at the beginning of November. Please contact Rippe & Kingston or call 513.977.4564 with any questions regarding this enhancement or any other issue.

Ensuring Food Safety & Compliance saves money

2010-08-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

Most companies follow guidelines for the preparation of food, but is the equipment properly maintained that processes the food? Maintaining equipment requires proper cleaning procedures and preventative maintenance of the processing equipment. Food companies also need to maintain procedures, dates, time, and documentation in case of a recall. The stakes are high for companies that do not have the proper procedures and records for food processing.

Methos can give you the system that insures that you are in compliance with proper schedules of inspection, procedures, traceability of parts used, proper tracking of personnel and reduce your cost of operation. A food recall can put your company out of business. Can you afford to roll the dice putting off proper maintenance to your equipment?

Learn how your company can save money as a bi-product of ensuring Food Safety & Compliance. Contact Mike Albers of Rippe & Kingston Systems at (513) 977-4548.

How are you entering repetitive Work Orders into Methos?

2010-08-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

Are you manually creating a Work Order each time they occur? If so, you may want to think about setting up and using the Methos Standard Jobs Module. Standard Jobs are similar to Preventative Maintenance Tasks, except that they do not have a due date. Standard Jobs are used for tasks that occur repeatedly, but you don't know exactly when they will happen. These could include things such as a belt replacement or tasks that occur during a plant shutdown. You can set up Work Order templates within Standard Jobs, then source them to actual Work Orders when needed. The benefit of this is that the job checklist or procedures can be outlined in the notebook text, and a bill of material can be set up so you know the correct procedures and parts are being used.

Please contact Rippe & Kingston at 513.977. 4564 to discuss how this might work for you.

Release of new aXes version 1.35

2010-08-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

With the release of aXes version 1.35, you can now write programs (or access old ones) to run on mobile devices. Customized Methos screens can be developed to work more efficiently on smart phones or devices with small screens by extending access to your data. Work Orders, Equipment History, etc. can be accessed using aXes. Not only will your Methos application from the System i run via this software, but so will any other System i application you use. This technology allows you to leverage your current development skill set to open up new data distribution methods.

Please contact Rippe & Kingston to discuss how this might work within your organization or call 513.977.4564.

PC File Links via STRPCCMD Command

2010-08-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to link a Methos Equipment ID, Part or Work Order to a PC folder to allow for document viewing? If so, that is possible from your client access session via the STRPCCMD command. This command allows for taking data from a Methos record and using it to lauch Windows Explorer to open a particular folder or image.

If you would like to dicsuss this topic in more detail, please contact R&K.

2010-07-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

The new Methos Quick Work Order Completion allows users to select which options they wish to run from the Work Order Header Maintenance screen. The user can select Issue Parts, Time Entry, Notebook Text Entry, Additional Cost Entry, WO Print and WO Step Completion. If more than 1 Step is associated with the Work Order, the user is asked to select the Step to process against.

The processes are then displayed to the user one after the other to allow for entry. This greatly reduces the time it takes to log all the activity on a Work Order.

Contact R&K for a demonstration.

Methos Release 12.5

2010-07-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

Methos 12.5 has been released. This is a significant upgrade from Methos 12.0 with changes for Quick Work Order processing, Methos Purchasing and Inventory.

Please contact R&K to find out more.

Time to update your maintenance benchmarks?

2010-07-21T04:53:00.000-07:00

A questions that everyone should ask themselves (if it is not already an automated process) is : Is it time to update our maintenance management benchmarks? Many organizations perform a typical prior periods comparison. Unfortunately, that does not really tell the whole story. For example: Maybe your plant has added new equipment and expanded the facility. This would result in questionable results for comparison.

Perhaps a Best-in-class benchmark of the best in your industry. A benchmark might be the number and severity of complaints per month.

One northeastern city wanted to see how they compared in getting garbage truck repaired and back on the street. Their own measurement system showed significant improvement. However, when they called around found another city was dramatically better with a lower maintenance cost per vehicle. Using a benchmark can be a sobering experience.

Remember: You can't manage what you don't measure!

Learn more about maintenance management.

United Dairy Farmers Uses METHOS

2010-06-17T17:40:00.001-07:00

Linda Campbell of United Dairy Farmers recently met with Gerald Combs and shared her experiences of using METHOS. See complete client success story or contact Gerald Combs at 513.241.1375.

METHOS Featured at the Harris Data Conference.

2010-05-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

Gerald Combs was a featured speaker at the Harris Data Conference this past week. Here is a picture of him "working the booth."

Methos Represented at HarrisData User Conference

2010-05-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

Methos was one of the few vendors that were invited to participate in the HarrisData User Conference this year. This year's conference was held in Milwaukee, WI. With maintenance budgets being cut more and more, Methos offers proven ways to track costs and reduce waste.

Methos has integration ties to both General Ledger and Accounts Payables within HarrisData. Methos passes purchasing data into the HarrisData General Ledger, and Methos does Invoice Matching to pass Receipt data into HarrisData Accounts Payable.

If you like more information on Methos or the Integration to HarrisData, please contact R&K.

Methos Illustrates Work Order Management Module

2010-04-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

aXes allows Methos to transform 5250 screens into browser based screens and makes it easily deployed via the web. aXes makes deploying Methos as easy as deploying a web application and eliminates the need to install any software on the users' workstations. We can bring back the application management to the server room which reduces the client's overall administration. A number of new features are also now available for Methos. This sample screenshot of Methos illustrates our work order management module. Contact us here for more information.

Methos Adds LANSA’s aXes Technology

2010-04-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Rippe and Kingston is leveraging LANSA's aXes 5250 application Interface Technology to the Methos Maintenance Management Software to provide a Windows User interface and deploy via a browser. The technology will allow Methos to provide interface constructs like dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons, calendars, charts, hyperlinks, and images. Methos will also offer remote access to spooled print jobs and remote SQL access to IBM I databases using aXes. Check back for additional updates as they are made available.

What do you do if your boss asks you to cut budget by 20%

2010-02-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

I posed this question to Gerald Combs as it relates to Maintenance Management and here are some of his responses:

Review Vendor purchases to negotiate a better volume discount

Review usage to possible reduce on-hand inventory volumes and un-needed purchases

Review work history to see if current manpower is justified

Review Emergency Work to see if PM Schedule is doing enough (typically cheaper to PM than to have down time)

Review most expensive Equipment by WO Cost to see

Same tasks being repeated

· Issue with machine (PM needed or possible Equipment replacement)

· Issue with Mechanics (need additional training or different Mechanic doing the job)

Part flaws causing failure

Machine cost comparisons for like pieces of Equipment

Is one manufacturer better than another
Is the Mechanic on 1 machine better than another (why?)

Purchase Order Emailing

2009-11-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

Emailing of Methos Purchase Orders is now available. No need to print and fax your Purchase Orders to your Vendors; you can now email them directly out of Methos.

Contact R&K if you interested in setting up this option.

Methos Email

2009-05-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

Are you using Methos email?

If not, you might be missing out on an easy way to keep Methos users up-to-date on Methos processing.

Automatic Work Order (WO) emails can be sent to the WO Requestor when a WO is Approved, Completed or Cancelled. This can save numerous phone calls of "what is the status of my Work Order".

You can also generate PDF attachments that can be sent along with the emails generated by Methos. This can be nice if you want to email an entire WO Print to someone for review.

Contact R&K to see if this option is right for you.

Maintenance Philosophy

2009-05-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Plant and facility maintenance tasks never end....unless you constantly do the following:

Evaluate all processes - each time you complete a process, evaluate the approach
Simplify where possible - determine if you can simplify the process
Eliminate when you can - and if you can....ELIMINATE!

Be Sure and Include a Maintenance Management System to the Stimulus Package

2009-02-24T05:02:00.000-08:00

I was reminded over the past weekend that one of the areas that the stimulus package will focus on is the "Plumbing Infrastructure" and I do mean plumbing. According to Ganett News, America's aging sewer systems continue to dump human waste into rivers and streams, despite years of fines and penalties targeting publicly owned agencies responsible for sewage overflows.

Now is the perfect time to implement strong computerized maintenance management systems.

In Cincinnati, Ohio where I live, most of the systems are over 100 years in age. They face huge challenges in this effort and it only makes sense to start maintaining them properly. Across the country it is estimated that we have 1.2 million miles of sewers snaking underground. Maybe the stimulus package can help put in place systems that allow maintenance personnel operate efficiently and effectively instead of only working on emergency work orders. (That is assuming they even have a system in place)

Press Release for VERSION 12.0 of METHOS

2009-02-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

Cincinnati, Ohio – February 2, 2009 – Rippe & Kingston Systems, Inc. With the need for greater efficiencies and cost savings high on executive agendas, superior maintenance management is emerging as a business imperative. The new release of METHOS™ significantly raises the bar in areas of Process Improvements and Integration with other systems. See Details.

Cost Effective Internet Training

2009-02-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

Internet Training is a great tool for keeping your company up to date on the latest software enhancements or to bring newer employees up to speed. With short 1 to 2 hour sessions, you can train new employees on already defined processes or review advanced topics with existing users. You eliminate travel costs, and employees are not tied up for long periods of time. Productivity can increase with just a small amount of time and cost.

Request Additional Information

Methos Release Version 12.0

2009-01-27T07:51:00.000-08:00

Methos has just released Version 12.0 for all new and existing clients. Numerous integration and process improvements are included in this release. Quick Work Orders, Template Defaults to speed your data entry, Contract Purchase Requisition Process, Audit Work Orders, Preventative Maintenance Frequencies such as second Tuesday, are just some of the enhancements.

If you are looking for a Comprehensive Maintenance Management System that is fully integrated to your ERP (JDE, Infor, and others), that reduces your cost of software ownership, METHOS just might be your answer.

Request Additional Information

Call or Email

Updated Standard Handbook for Electrial Engineers

2009-01-23T07:48:00.000-08:00

We have received some great feedback on this classic that has now massively updated their book with new material on power generation, distrubtion, systems operation, and more.

Originally published in 1907, this new 15th edition features new material focusing on power generation and power systems operation, two longstanding strengths of the handbook that have recently become front-burner technology issues.

Click Here for More

Do you have leaky gray pipes?

2008-12-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

Maybe someone can help pay the plumber. There is a final class-action deadline nears for consumers with faulty plumbing, click on link below.

http://magazine.angieslist.com//story/special-report_polybutylene-piping

News regarding IBM's Operating System V6R1

2008-11-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

Methos Maintenance Management Software is live on the V6R1 operating system at client's sites.

The biggest upgrade since the CISC to RISC operating system 10 years ago, the V6R1 requires new version of Methos 12.0.

IBM has been letting the industry know about the changes that the new operating system will bring since the first beta releases of V6R1 came out last year. The changes are being made to clean things up a bit and to ensure that everybody is using the latest programming, security, and performance advances in the operating system and underlying microcode. To enforce compliance with the latest technologies, IBM is requiring all applications to go through the program conversion process.

IBM is also providing the Analyze Object Conversion, or ANZOBJCVN, tool to help with program conversions and identify potential conversion difficulties with applications written for i5/OS V5R3 and V5R4.

New systems are being shipped with the i5/OS V6R1, so if you are receiving a new box make sure that you request the Methos 12.0. All Requests

Your Facilities are Wasting Money

2008-11-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Computerized Maintenance Management Software like METHOS can provide huge dividends. However, we sometimes forget some basic advice about how you as the person reponsible for plant and facility maintenance can save the company money. Below are few of well publicized and yet often ignored tips.

Dripping Faucets: One hot water faucet that leaks at a rate of 1 gallon/hour wastes $30 - $120 in energy per year. Consider going touchless faucets to reduce the problem.

Unnecessary Vending-Machine Cooling: Vending machines use electricity 24/7. Why not shut off drink vending machines at night and on weekends where possible?“

Unnecessary Vending-Machine Lighting: De-lamping vending machines can save energy and money. De-lamping that one machine can save $100/year.

Not optimizing Equipment start-up Time and Sequencing: Think about when your equipment is turning on, how many pieces are turning on at the same time, and when it’s all shutting down. If each piece of equipment in your facility is starting at the same time, your peak demand will be much higher than if equipment starts sequentially. Bring your equipment online throughout a period of about 30 minutes or so.

Leaving Electronics & Appliances Turned On: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, office equipment makes up about 16 percent of an office’s energy use. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than $1 billion/year is frittered away on electricity for computer monitors that are left on. Install power-management software to control monitors and CPUs. Sleep mode can slash energy expenses by up to 50%. Shutting down just one computer/monitor nightly and on weekends saves up to $80/year.

Storeroom for Tools

2008-11-19T16:19:00.001-08:00

Have you considered setting up a separate Methos Storeroom just for the tools at your plant?

If not, this is a great way to keep track of your high end tools. You set them up just like you would any other Inventory item in Methos.

Create a Part ID for each tool.
Place the Part ID into a separate Storeroom along with the Qty of each tool.

When someone needs one of these tools, they Issue them out just like any other spare part. This way you are creating a Transaction History for the tool. If the item is not in the Storeroom, you know who to go ask about it.

This provides an easy way to keep track of where these valuable items are. Not having the right tool for the job can lead to expensive down time.

5 Ways to Simplify Maintenance Management

2008-11-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Mike Albers recently published a nice article that gives 5 quick tips on how to Simplify Maintenance Management. His general philosopy about any process and especially when come it comes to Maintenance Management: Evaluate every process that you repeat, simplify and eliminate where possible.

Read his article

METHOS & Predictive Maintenance

2008-11-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

Predictive maintenance techniques help determine the condition of in-service equipment in order to predict when maintenance should be performed. This approach offers cost savings over routine or time-based preventive maintenance, because tasks are performed only when warranted.

PdM, or condition-based maintenance, attempts to evaluate the condition of equipment by performing periodic or continuous (online) equipment condition monitoring. The ultimate goal of PdM is to perform maintenance at a scheduled point in time when the maintenance activity is most cost-effective and before the equipment loses optimum performance. This is in contrast to time- and/or operation count-based maintenance, where a piece of equipment gets maintained whether it needs it or not. Time-based maintenance is labor intensive, ineffective in identifying problems that develop between scheduled inspections, and is not cost-effective. Contact your METHOS consultant to learn how you can leverage Predictive Maintenance in METHOS.

Cost Control with the IBM System i (AS/400)

2008-11-07T04:23:00.000-08:00

I read a great article regarding cost control with the IBM System i. This is the same system that METHOS uses. This should provide some insight into your counterparts in your respective organization. You will note that they reference several of the leading ERP vendors that METHOS provides direct integration. ERP software vendors such as Infor, JD Edwards/Oracle /, Lawson, and SAP have substantial numbers of System i users in their installed bases. Read article

Do you know where your maintenance dollars are going?

2008-11-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

Equipment

What is your most expense piece of machinery? Is it being PM’d?
Are you repeatedly repairing the same thing on a piece of equipment?

Inventory

Which Vendor are you spending the most with? Are you getting discounts?
How much money is sitting on your storeroom shelves?
Have all of these items been used in the last 6 months? Year?

These are just a few of the questions that Methos can help you answer. Contact us if you want more information.

Good Sound Roofs!

2008-10-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

Good sound roofs are critical to the ongoing, internal operations of any facility. We are pleased to recommend our client Roofing Resources, Inc. They are a roof consulting firm committed to providing their customers with unrivaled experience and expertise in the roofing industry.

Green Roof Systems is one area of specialization that has gained a lot of attention. Green roofs are vegetated roof systems used in place of conventional roofs. The benefits of green roofs are far-reaching; they help capture stormwater run-off that otherwise would enter the city's overburdened combined sewer and drainage systems. Green roofs also help capture air pollution and carbon dioxide, reduce outdoor air temperatures and the "urban heat island" effect, and insulate buildings, which saves energy. Great for the environment and saves money!

Some of their other services include:

Roof Guardian Preventative Maintenance Program
Roof Investigations

HVAC Services

Design / Build Services

Project Monitoring

Roof Collapse Monitoring (Guardian Safe Roof System)

Leak Services

Fall Protection Services
Indoor Air Quality

Structural Support Services

Litigation Support Services

Leak Free Guardian Warranty

Contact Roofing Resources, Inc.

Card Scanning?

2008-10-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

Have you considered using Card Scanners within your Storeroom or facility to capture data?

Card scanners can read either an encoded magnetic stripe or a barcode. Placing laminated cards within Part Bins could speed up entry of Part Issues or Physical Counts. They could also be used to read the Methos Work Order or Badge ID information.

Companies are always looking to speed up processes, and this option may be one way to do it. Attaching a card scanner to the PC in your Storeroom can assist in making sure that each item that is taken gets recorded. This part information could be processed either real time or uploaded later when Storeroom personnel have the time. Either way, it is another tool to ensure that the Storeroom Inventory is correct.

Moving to V6R1M0?

2008-10-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

If you are nearing the move to V6R1M0 on your System i, please contact Methos Support to discuss a migration plan. With their help, this move does not have to be a complicated process.

You may also want to discuss adding other Methos modules since you will be upgrading LANSA in the process.

METHOS Technology (LANSA) Named to START-IT 125 2008

2008-10-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

LANSA (The Development Platform used for Creating and Maintaining METHOS) was Named To START-IT 125 of 2008

The List Focuses on Most Influential Technology Providers for Manufacturers

For the third consecutive year, LANSA has been named to the START-IT 125. This directory is for the most influential technology providers in the manufacturing space. The list provides manufacturers with a snapshot of the industrial market and the companies that will have the greatest impact on shaping its future. Companies are selected by the editors of START-IT and its editorial advisory board and represent the most influential technology providers in manufacturing.

Rippe & Kingston has been a business partner with LANSA for 20 Years!

METHOS Approved by IBM for Global Solutions Directory

2008-09-22T04:45:00.001-07:00

Rippe & Kingston received notification from IBM on Friday 9/19/2008 that METHOS 7X24 Maintenance is being included in their Global Solutions Directory.

Outsourced Facilities Management Sector in GCC to Reach 10 Billion by 2012

2008-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Dubai, UAE - September 14, 2008: The outsourced facilities management sector in the GCC region is expected to reach a value of USD$10 billion by 2012, according to a study conducted by Arab Business Review.

The region’s booming construction market has spawned the need for top-end benchmarks to ensure the sustainability of these buildings, thus incurring the development of maintenance programs which has in turn created a huge demand for professionals in the Facilities Management (FM) industry. In line with this, Macdonald & Company has announced its participation at Cityscape Dubai 2008, during which the leading recruitment consultancy focusing solely on the property industry, aims to address the growing demand for FM professionals, as many projects in the region reach their delivery stage.

U.S. CORRUGATED, Inc. Expands with METHOS

2008-09-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

U.S. Corrugated, Inc. continues to expand and control their maintenance operations by using METHOS 7x24 Plant & Facility Maintenance.

Mike Albers, Director of METHOS Product & Services for Rippe & Kingston, said "We are extremely pleased by the acceptance of METHOS by U.S. Corrugated. Our services and implementation teams have been working with them in their coordinated deployment plan. We are delighted by the recent addition of new plants and look forward to continued growth and success."

U.S. Corrugated locations using METHOS now include:

Kennesaw GA

Amsterdam NY

Atlanta GA

Bowling Green KY

Cedar Rapids IA

Atlanta GA

Fridley MN

Ft. Worth TX

Grand Forks ND

Greensboro NC

Atlanta GA

Lancaster OH

Milwaukee WI

Seward NE

Cowpens SC

West SPringfield MA

Tullahoma TN

About U.S. Corrugated, Inc. With a well earned reputation as one of the most dynamic and progressive companies in the industry, U.S. Corrugated, Inc. is the leading independent corrugated packaging producer in the United States today. The company operates 20 full service manufacturing facilities in 14 states, including its state of the art recycled containerboard mill in Cowpens, South Carolina.

About METHOS: METHOS is a comprehensive maintenance management system from Rippe & Kinston Systems, Inc. with installations world wide. Modules include: Equipment, Work Order, Preventative Maintenance, Inventory / Storeroom, Charge Account, Personnel, Fleet, Security, Integration Control, Purchasing and Standard Jobs. METHOS is based on LANSA technology.

Pump Engineering Equations

2008-06-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

There are a number of complex equations that deal with water pump engineering. Although not difficult to work with pen and paper, they can be time-consuming. This site eliminates much of the labor. Simple "plug in" your values in the blanks and press the "Calculate" button. The results will be computed for you. Best of all, if the answer is used as a variable in another equation, it will automatically be placed in any other such equation, allowing for rapid calculation of pump technical data. Pump Engineering Equations

Computerized Maintenance Management according to Wikipedia

2008-05-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Do you agree with the definition found in Wikipedia?

Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is also known as Enterprise Asset Management.
A CMMS software package maintains a computer database of information about an organization’s maintenance operations. This information is intended to help maintenance workers do their jobs more effectively (for example, determining which storerooms contain the spare parts they need) and to help management make informed decisions (for example, calculating the cost of maintenance for each piece of equipment used by the organization, possibly leading to better allocation of resources). The information may also be useful when dealing with third parties; if, for example, an organization is involved in a liability case, the data in a CMMS database can serve as evidence that proper safety maintenance has been performed.

Learn about Rippe & Kingston's Maintenance Management System (METHOS)

2007-11-15T12:45:00.000-08:00

DB2 Web Query for System i

I just returned from a training class on the new DB2 Web Query offering from IBM, and am excited about using it with our Plant and Facility Maintenance application (METHOS). It shows great promise in both retrieval and analyzing vital data. You are able to add a more modern look to any existing Query/400 report as well as produce new, more graphical reports. Queried output can go directly to spreadsheets or PDF documents, and color coding or graphs can be added. These new options will greatly enhance the ability to highlight Preventative Maintenance Tasks and Work Orders that are in need of attention as well as assist in easier distribution throughout the organization.

Features like the Developer Workbench allow for the complexity of the database to be hidden from the end user (non-IT staff). The Power Painter (WYSIWYG) provides users the ability to easily design reports with the end goal directly visible. The On-Line Analytical Processing allows users to drill into data so they do not have to guess as to what makes up the numbers on the report. And using Active Reports allows you to take the queried data on the road for analysis; no server connection required.

If you have not seen this new tool in action, I highly recommend it.

We need your ideas for the METHOS Conference in 2008!

2007-10-13T16:07:00.000-07:00

The METHOS team is working hard to identify the best networking opportunities, case studies, workshops, and presentations to make our 2008 METHOS Users Conference the most effective ever. So regardless of what industry you use METHOS, there will be valuable information given that you can use immediately upon returning to your workplace. Some suggested conference topics include:

Best Practices for Maintenance and Reliability

New Feature Reviews

Reporting Techniques

Leveraging the e.ssential Portal (Example: Web Based Work Orders)

Tips & Tricks

Planning and Scheduling

Developer Roundtable

Customer Case Studies

We really want to hear your suggestions. Use the contact us page to drop an email or call.

Wrench Time Studies

2007-05-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

I just read an article title Let's kill wrench time studies!

I completely agree with the author that consultants and educators are keeping the concept alive. What is your opinion on this issue? You can read the article by linking here.

Vibration Fundamentals

2007-02-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

You might want to consider a book by Keith Mobley on Vibration Analysis. It is a little expensive for my budget, but it is quite comprehensive.

This single volume, Vibration Fundamentals explains the basic theory, applications, and benefits of vibration analysis. Vibration analysis is the dominant predictive maintenance technique used with maintenance management programs.

People are your greatest asset!

2007-02-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

Below is a recap of an article that I recently read by David Berger, P.Eng that I thought you might enjoy.

Although most companies spend more money on hard assets such as facilities, equipment, and infrastructure, it’s unquestionably true that people are your greatest asset. This has been proven time and again – if you don’t have skilled operators to run the equipment properly, or savvy maintenance personnel to fix them, there will be no return on the purchased capital equipment. Thus, how well management determines the business needs that drive job requirements, then matches the right people with the right jobs, affects profitability.

Needs drive requirements-Hiring, retaining and developing the right maintenance personnel is a long and costly process, but not nearly as costly as having the wrong people on the job.
Determine skill requirements: For optimal technician satisfaction and productivity, jobs should be composed, where possible, of tasks that require the same skill level.
Establish competencies: The word competency refers to the knowledge, abilities and characteristics necessary to complete the tasks required of a job.
Set standards for performance and quality: Another key consideration in determining maintenance job requirements is the expectation for quality and performance.
Fix job levels/categories: Combining tasks with similar skill levels and similar competencies into jobs provides a progression from low to high skill levels for categories based on competencies.
Determine training requirements: Determine training needs for each job once categories and levels are set.
Match people to the jobs: Business needs change over time, as do the maintenance employee’s acquired skills and aspirations. It’s critical to keep abreast of these changes to better match the right people to the right jobs.
Facilitate career path planning: Setting job levels and categories with similar competencies and skill levels allows maintenance workers to progress from simple entry-level positions to more advanced jobs, with appropriate training and testing at each stage.
Conduct succession planning: Maintenance management should not only be aware of their workers’ career path, but also the need for succession planning. This includes how gaps are to be filled as maintenance workers move to more advanced positions or leave the company.
Exploit multi-skilling opportunities: In some cases, there’s not enough demand for a given skill or bundle of skills to justify establishing and filling a full-time position because of gaps in shift coverage or business requirements spread over a large geographic area. Multi-skilling, or training in two or more job categories at one or more skill levels, may be a viable option.
Plan and schedule properly: The CMMS is a useful tool for ensuring that the right people are doing the right work at the right time by means of the planning and scheduling module.
Evaluate performance: The CMMS also can monitor whether the maintenance department is meeting service level expectations at the lowest possible cost.
Supervision: A major factor that influences matching people to jobs is the quantity and quality of supervision available.

Maintenance Tip

2007-02-09T04:14:00.000-08:00

Well-planned, properly scheduled, and effectively communicated jobs accomplish more work, more efficiently, and at a lower cost. This work will disturb operations less frequently, and be accomplished with higher quality, greater job satisfaction, and higher organizational morale than jobs performed without proper preparation.

Maintenance Planning and Scheduling focuses on and deals specifically with the preparatory tasks that lead to effective utilization and application of maintenance resources. It is a vital training document for planners, an educational document for those to whom planners are responsible, and a valuable guide for those who interface with the planning and scheduling function and are dependent upon the many contributions of planning and scheduling operational excellence.

If you need assistance or additional training don't hesitate to contact the R&K METHOS Support Team.

News Feeds

2007-01-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

We have started to incorporate news feeds into the METHOS blog. If you have a favorite feed, let us know and we will include it.

METHOS uses e.ssential Portal

2006-12-30T15:46:00.000-08:00

METHOS now has portlets available to run within the e.ssential Portal. Details will follow in the coming weeks.

Methos 10.0

2006-07-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

Announcing the release of Methos 10.0

Methos version 10.0 will be ready for general release during the month of August, 2006.

Start making plans to upgrade now. Please contact Methos Support to have your upgrade package shipped out.

Thank you.

METHOS 2006 Conference Recap

2006-05-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

METHOS 2006 Conference Recap

Another great conference for METHOS has concluded and everyone at Rippe & Kingston wishes to thanks the attendees and guest speakers.

The surveys were reviewed and some of the common comments included,

“Great food”
“Great discussion with fellow attendees”
“Very informative”
“Well planned” (Credit for that goes to Mike, Gerald & Pam)
"Social events are a real plus"

Special thanks to Don Nelson from LANSA who gave an excellent presentation on wireless connectivity as well as participating in portion of the RAMP presentation by Mike and John.

Bill Hood from Stratum gave a very informative session on RFID and generated significant interest by the attendees.

We hope everyone has safe trip home and I will try and post some photos in the next couple of days. Again, thanks for a great conference!

Methos 2006 User Conference

2006-05-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

R&K would like to welcome everyone to the Methos 2006 User Conference. The conference begins with a reception on Tuesday night, May 9th, and runs through Thursday afternoon. We are looking forward to discussing where Methos is today and where you would like to see it go tomorrow. Please come prepared to share your experiences with the product.

Welcome again.

2006-05-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome the METHOS 7X24 Manatenance Management System BLOG. This site is dedicated to ideas, conversations and approaches for using METHOS and maitnenace management subjects in general. Let's talk!