MINDER

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MINDER

• Part of EPIC System
• (Electronic Procurement Inventory Control)
• Linesman Ltd.
• 2006 Version 1.03

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What happens to the equipment after acceptance?

• Normally, procurement is completed at the end of
  equipment acceptance. Thereafter, the fate of the
  equipment lies with each site.
• Having invested considerable sums of funds into
  equipment, certain attention must be paid to the
  long term use of the equipment.
• With clever tools and relatively small
  investment, this can be easily achieved.

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Assisting Long Term Use of Equipment

• Data collected in EPIC during the procurement
  process can be used for various purposes.
• Web Based Inventory Lookup Database
• Active Asset Management (MINDER)

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• Web Based Inventory Lookup Database

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What is Inventory Lookup Database?

• This is a read only database, providing full
  supply information on the web.
• The database can be searched by
• Barcode
• Serial number
• Equipment description
• Project Site
• etc.,
• It is possible to access the PDF files of
  manuals.
• To promote the web page, the address can be
  printed on the barcode labels.
• This database can be available on a web page
  evermore.

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What are Advantages of Inventory Lookup Database?

• Inventory Lookup Database will allow end-user to
  access the supply information easily, when ever
  necessary.
• Inventory Lookup Database can be used to check
  warranty information, supplier details,
  manufacturer details, spares information,
  maintenance notes, etc.
• Inventory Lookup Database is a byproduct of using
  EPIC. It can be implemented by setting up a
  simple web page working over the database,
  virtually at no cost.

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Sample Screens from Web Based Lookup Database
Enter Search Criteria
Items marching criteria displayed
Details of the selected item displayed
Technical Manuals in PDF format can be accessed
on line.
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• Active Asset Management
• (MINDER)

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MINDER for Active Asset Management

• MINDER is the module with in EPIC system and
  provides the following functionality
• Inventory Control
• Equipment Maintenance
• In comparison to Look Up Database, MINDER is an
  active system keeping the inventory up-to-date.

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Equipment labels and Hand Held PC

• By use of EPIC, all installed items have details
  recorded in the inventory database and have a
  bar-coded label with a unique number on the
  equipment.
• In addition to the equipment, each room is
  bar-coded and details are recorded in the
  database.
• The bar-codes can be easily read by a hand held
  computer.
• MINDER has two modules
• Desktop PC
• Hand held computer (a standard pocket PC running
  Windows CE with a bar-code reader)

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Steps of Inventory Control 1

• First download the information to the Hand Held.

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Handheld Setup
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Steps of Inventory Control 2

• Go to the room.
• In the room, first thing is to read the room
  bar-code.
• This tells the handheld which room the inventory
  control will be implemented.
• The handheld displays the items that should be in
  the room.

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Room Barcode
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Handheld Display
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Steps of Inventory Control 3

• Read the bar-codes on all items in the room.
• Hand held will alert when an item does not belong
  to the current room. The user has the option to
  assign the item to the current room, or move the
  equipment physically to the original location.
• After all items are read, hand held can list the
  items that are missing in the room.
• The same steps are repeated in other rooms.

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Reading Barcode
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Steps of Inventory Control 4

• The data collected by the hand held is uploaded
  to MINDER. This data collected constitutes the
  equipment inventory history.
• Through this information, last location of an
  item, list of missing items can be easily
  monitored.
• Since this process is very simple, quick, and not
  require any special skills, it can be repeated
  frequently.
• Equipment can be assigned to individuals
  (keeper), so when an item is missing, the keeper
  can be contacted.

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Room Audit
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Equipment Maintenance

• Another key functionality of MINDER is to
  organize maintenance and keep the service history
  of equipment.
• MINDER will manage maintenance as follows
• Monitor the maintenance schedule.
• Alert for the service of those items requiring
  periodic maintenance.
• Manage warranty.
• Keep service history for each item with the
  following fields
• Type of service (periodic or breakdown)
• Date of service
• Service under warranty / Cost of service
• Name of the service company or personnel
• Notes on the service
• Next service date
• Current condition of the item
• Provide complete supply history (Manufacturer,
  supplier details etc) to solve problems.
• Provide Maintenance Instructions required for
  conducting the service.
• Identify equipment that requires replacing due to
  high number of breakdowns with in the warranty
  period (applicable to some countries)

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How are items disposed from the inventory?

• Inventory items can be disposed (removed from the
  inventory)
• Sold
• Donated
• Lost / stolen
• This operation can only be done by the authorized
  users to avoid fraud.
• Details of disposed items are kept in the
  database and can be viewed or printed.

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What are advantages of MINDER

• Keeps inventory database up-to-date.
• Controls location of inventory.
• Manages maintenance.
• Saves cost by maintaining valuable inventory.
• Reduces theft.

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• New Version
• MINDER.NET

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New version MINDER.NET

• A new version, MINDER.NET, is under development.
  This new version will have the following added
  advantages
• .NET platform and SQL database
• Web based system
• Synchronous inventory control with wireless
  pocket PC
• Includes INDEX to barcode and register existing
  inventory.

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MINDER.NET .NET Platform

• EPIC.NET is developed using latest database and
  web technologies and runs entirely over the LAN,
  Intranet or Internet using windows explorer.
• Software is only updated in the server
• Powerful and easy to customize queries and
  reports
• High Security
• Selected functionality for the different users
• Possibility to link to other SQL databases and
  systems
• Remote technical support

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MINDER.NET Web Based System

• MINDER.NET runs entirely over the LAN, Intranet
  or Internet using Windows Explorer. The ability
  of using the program from the internet explorer
  brings various advantages such as
• Users can work from any location in the world
• No software installation is required at the
  client
• Access to suppliers, manufacturers can be given
  for select functionality.

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MINDER.NET Synchronous Inventory Control

• New version of MINDER.NET Hand Held works over
  wireless network using Terminal Server.
• With the use of the Terminal Server, the Pocket
  Pc just displays the screen of the MINDER.NET
  Hand Held Program running on the Server. Pocket
  Pc only acts as a screen, a keyboard and a
  barcode reader to the program running on the
  server.
• All data processing is handled on the server.
• No data download or upload is necessary as the
  data is processed synchronously.
• The connection to the server can be over the
  internet.
• Multiple Pocket Pcs can be used simultaneously.
• No program installation is required on the Pocket
  PC.
• A LAN access in the vicinity of the rooms is
  necessary. If a wireless network is absent, a
  wireless Access Point can be connected to a LAN
  socket for immediate wireless LAN coverage in the
  room.
• On the spot emails can be send for equipment
  requiring service.

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MINDER.NET Registering Existing Inventory

• Items that are not bar-coded may be easily
  bar-coded and registered using built-in INDEX
  (Inventory Development Executive) functionality.
• Depending on the type of inventory and available
  information a number of alternative methods can
  be used. It is possible to use a paper or online
  catalogue to choose the type of the inventory as
  they are labelled.
• At a minimum the following information is
  collected
• Type
• Location
• Barcode number
• Manufacturer Name
• Model Number

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MINDER.NET INDEX

• INDEX with paper catalogue can be implemented in
  these basic steps
• Read the room barcode.
• Choose the item from the INDEX catalogue and read
  the barcode.
• Stick a bar-coded label on the item and read the
  barcode.
• Optionally type in the manufacturer name and
  model number.

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Contact Details

• Linesman Ltd.
• Dr. Kevin Whitt
• Email linesman_at_compuserve.com
• Web www.linesman.com
• Tel [phone]
• Address The Whitehouse, Burlington Road
• Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2GS
• England