Amada remote electronic service reporting to benefit UK customers

The system completes the customer's details and email address automatically, before the engineer inputs details of parts used or recommended along with any remedial action required. The customer's signature is captured, using touch-screen laptop PCs, before the data is "wrapped-up" in an email and sent to Amada, via a GSM data network. In nearly all cases a standard document is waiting in the customer's email inbox, before the engineer has left site, allowing the customer to make quick decisions on any action needed, to reduce the risk of downtime. Amada's document process management software archives a copy of the service report automatically and notifies all of the relevant Amada internal departments of the actions requested. The data is also fed back to Amada's headquarters in Japan, for analysis. Additionally, standard digital checklists ensure a continued and consistent level of planned work, while electronic data collected allows recurring issues to be analysed quickly and dealt with using planned preventative measures. Other benefits of the innovative system include functionality to provide immediate action after the engineer's visit to follow-up any outstanding issues, information requests or quotations, and a real time replenishment of consumable parts, carried by engineers, to ensure visits are concluded 'first time'. Amada is now developing the system further to allow customers access to data through a secure portal. Current trials are enabling pilot project customers to access, online, their machine service history, invoices and account information. This is expected to be rolled out in the near future to all Amada users.