This document discusses the benefits of mobility for engineering and operations teams. It argues that most corporate memory currently exists on paper, but a mobile solution allows information to always be available to engineers. Mobility can also help ensure proper lockout tagout procedures are followed for safety and reduce liability risks. Using mobile apps allows engineers to accurately capture data in the field through features like cameras and signatures, rather than transcribing paper processes. The document concludes that mobile technologies have advanced significantly in recent years, making it more affordable and effective to equip engineers with consumer mobile devices.

1. Here is why mobility
shouldn’t be an
afterthought for
your operations and
engineering teams.

2. Most engineering
offices have post-it
notes and
clipboards in spaces.
This process works,
but there is a better
way.

3. 90% of corporate memory
exists on paper, this
doesn’t just mean
documents and contracts…
it also means processes.
The industry is and will be
plagued by the retirement
of senior engineers.
Have your senior engineers
fully trained your junior
engineers?
If you take the time to
codify your process - why
not translate that to a
medium which will
ensure that information
is always available and
part of the daily life of an
engineer?

4. Does your facility have logs
for lockout tagout
compliance? Adding two
seconds to the work order
reduces your liability
dramatically.
When we talk about
process improvement, one
of the things we can’t
ignore is the inherent
liability of the engineering
discipline.
Following proper lockout
tagout procedures is critical
to the development of a
safe engineering
environment.

5. I’m not saying we’ve ever seen this in our discipline,
but presuming it’s happening are you catching it?
Requiring engineers to scan-in and scan-out helps
make it harder to pencil whip. It also helps prove
when an engineer was at an asset performing
work.
Mobility solidifies that your data is captured as
accurately as possible and as timely as
possible. Let’s also not forget it eliminates
transcribing a paper process into another
system… data is only captured and recorded
once.

6. Web vs. Native… which is
better?
The reality? The web is not
as good. You don’t have
access to the full power of
your phone.
What does that mean?
Camera, scanning,
signature capture, and
several other features you
want to utilize won’t work
as well… if at all.
The web is a dead end for
engineering and
operations; you can’t rely
on internet connection to
do your work; that means
you need an app.

7. Mobile has changed a lot.
The platforms for mobile
have matured an incredible
amount in the last few
years.
We used to work with
more “rugged” devices,
and the reality is they were
more powerful for the
time. But, in the last few
years consumer devices
have eclipsed their
enterprise counterparts in
almost all areas.
Most important, it no
longer costs thousands to
outfit an engineer, so there
has not been a better time
to mobile your employees.