Mobile AWARE™ - Boiler Inspection Module

Problem
Boiler components are regularly inspected during outages, resulting in reports that provide an assessment of the condition, along with findings and recommendations. It is critical that inspections be completed and documented as quickly and accurately as possible so that maintenance personnel can complete the required actions and get the unit back online without delay. Since the boiler is a confined space with a harsh, dusty environment, the traditional method of collecting information has been to jot down cryptic notes with a paper and pencil. After finishing the inspection, results have then been transcribed into the Aware™ software program for reporting and analysis.

This process – cryptic note taking and then transcribing– is inefficient, lends itself to transcribing errors and is susceptible to human memory lapses.

Solution
Users of Mobile AWARE are able to capture inspection findings electronically while an inspection is being done, thus saving time and reducing errors. In addition, users are able to access and review information collected from previous inspections while in the field and away from a networked computer. The application is designed to run on any handheld device available running Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows CE .NET. This provides users the flexibility of choosing hardware of various shapes, sizes and weights to suite individual preferences.

Features of Mobile AWARE for Boilers:

• Pre-configured forms are loaded on the handheld to assist in documenting visual inspection activities done inside a boiler. These forms have identical fields and pick list values to the corresponding activities in the Aware Web-based application, making it easy for web users to pick up.
• Fields are automatically updated if modified on the web – add a pick list value to the web application and it appears on the handheld after the next synchronization.
• The application runs on handheld devices running either the Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows CE .NET operating system.
• The user has the ability to review past inspections to see how conditions may have changed and to know where to focus attention during the current inspection.
• Users can synchronize multiple times during the outage, making data available to all involved in the outage in a timely manner. Any additions to an inspection activity using the web application are synchronized to the handheld and vice versa.
• The forms make heavy use of pick list fields to facilitate data entry. Free form text is entered through hardware alpha/numeric keys or any of the input methods included in the device’s operating system (block recognizer, pop-up keyboard, letter recognizer, and transcriber).