Our clients complain that when they receive a Report of Thorough Examination, they don’t understand what equipment it covers. How can I add an additional line to the document indicating the product number?
We have included the name of the equipment inspected by the technician in the Product No. field. A serial number alone is not sufficient for the client to clearly identify the item, as they have approximately 50 different types of equipment, including chains, hoists, lifting beams, vacuum lifting devices, and other equipment. The type and model are used for other tasks.
If the product description is not shown in the document, it becomes difficult for the client to determine which specific item the inspection report refers to.
For example, a chain hoist and a lifting beam may have identical serial numbers, but they are two different types of equipment. Without a product description or equipment name in the report, the client cannot clearly identify which item the inspection certificate applies to.
Why can’t this be added as an option to the form? The type and model don’t always indicate the product’s identity.
An example of how we enter shackles.
Serial number: 12345
Model: PBSP
Team: Omega
Product nr.: shackle
And this is just one example among many where the type ≠ the name of the equipment.
We focus on one type of data entry, and if the inspectors starts writing the name in a non-standard way, chaos will ensue. Plus, we use names in two languages, so imagine how long it would take an inspector to introduce each new product?
It is a very good thing that you are using products for the very reason you mention, to avoid individual entry of equipment data.
What I am suggesting is that you continue to use product, and include the Type and Model information on the product. Less typing for your inspectors, and the customer gets the equipment information they need on the fields where it is intended.
And to explain why we cannot just add Product Nr to the form - Although the request itself may seem like a small change, there is a bit more behind it from our side. We need to make sure that changes to the form are relevant and appropriate for the wider customer base, and not just solve a requirement for one particular customer. And in this case, other customers might not want the Product nr field to show on the form, and we need to consider that.
I’m not sure I fully understand your question, but I’ll try to clarify how this can be set up.
If a product has both a Type and a Model, you would simply add that to the type and model fields on the product, with the example I mentioned above: Type: Chainsling Model: RS PRO 2M
When the product is used to create equipment, these values will then be transferred to the equipment and the form, so the inspector does not need to enter them manually.
So in your case, where you keep this information in the Product nr field, you would simply copy it to also be in the Type and Model field. What information you include in the type and model field today I am not sure of, but if you let me know I can recommend the appropriate field.
Your second question:
You are able to customize parts of the form that includes the test details. The other parts of the forms collects metadata from the equipment, customer, location etc and is not customizable.
I will attach a screenshot from our system. Please let me know: if the “Type” and “Model” fields already contain values that do not clearly indicate what the item is - for example, a harness, chain, or something else - how can the customer determine what it is?
From your screenshot, I see that the Type and Model do not include the type of information you are saying, such as harness, chain etc. And this is where the problem is.
You need to update those fields to include information about Harness, Chain etc. Because that is what those fields are meant to include - That is why those are the fields on the RoTE.
You can choose to update the existing equipment data, or you can simply update the products to include the information so that the inspector doesn’t need to write it themselves when creating new equipment.
