Six ways a mobile service app helps oil and gas businesses improve field equipment performance

For oil and gas companies, service is an important component in ensuring the equipment used to drill, pump, and deliver the goods to customers stays in top shape. Today’s oil and gas companies not only have to manage the complex process of drilling, measuring, shipping, and selling oil and gas, they also need to make sure the equipment they use is in top shape so there’s no downtime or inefficiencies during the process.

With improvements in field service management software and mobile apps for oil and gas service departments, the task of servicing and performing regular maintenance through service contracts has become much more manageable. Learn how oil and gas companies can improve their field equipment’s performance, and lengthen its lifespan by taking advantage of the growing mobile app assortment.

6 ways oil and gas businesses can use a mobile service app to increase equipment efficiency

Because oil and gas rigs and heavy equipment are located in many geographical locations, oil and gas companies need a quality mobile solution to manage and care for equipment in remote locations. Here are the top ways a mobile service app helps ease that process:

1. Split service work orders into segments

Sometimes the work technicians need to do is complicated and may require multiple tasks or technicians to get the job done. A mobile segments feature allows the user to separate work orders into phases or groupings that relate to important components of the fieldwork taking place. Tracking work order phases through segments allows the user to document productivity at a meaningful level of detail.

2. Ease meter readings with e-Inspection forms

Oil and gas service businesses need to inspect their equipment regularly to capture meter readings to ensure safe and efficient conditions. To ease and standardize the inspection and meter reading process, businesses can build and centrally modify field eForms, and automatically sync information collected in the field with the back office. With a standard process in place and immediate reporting, readings and inspections not only will be more accurate, but the need for data reentry and archaic paper filing will be eliminated.

3. Measure equipment performance

Service businesses can use an integrated mobile app to monitor equipment performance in the field while their workers are on/off-site. With detailed insight into key performance indicators such as oil rig performance, energy output levels, or auto-alerts when a part needs replaced, oil and gas companies can rest assured knowing their equipment is functioning at peak performance levels.

4. Track inventory

Field workers need access to the parts and inventory information they’ll need to service or maintain pieces of equipment well. With a mobile app, field workers have constant access to the parts they need for any job to which they’re assigned. Field techs can also use such an app to collect data and use parts analytics to plan inventory purchasing, stocking, and allocation to improve inventory efficiency planning going forward.

5. Manage preventive maintenance contracts

Instead of waiting for a piece of equipment in the field to break down and halt production, oil and gas companies can schedule preventive maintenance contracts to keep equipment at peak performance. A mobile app auto-schedules these recurring maintenance orders and keeps technicians in the loop by sending alerts when PM orders are coming up. The app also provides full access into service and equipment history, inventory information, and knowledge sharing resources for each PM order on the technician’s schedule.

6. Improve scheduling efficiency

Mobile apps for service technicians are automatically connected to centralized service scheduling software, helping schedulers make rapid decisions and assignments based on actual technician location, availability, and skill set. This is helpful if the equipment is spread out because a technician won’t have to worry about driving hours out of his/her way to get there.

Oil and gas businesses of all shapes and sizes are looking to increase field equipment performance and make servicing equipment more efficient. Stay on top of rig and drilling equipment needs with a mobile service application to track, alert, and manage service needs for field technicians and back office workers alike.

Joanna Rotter is the Content Marketing Manager at MSI, a CFE Media content partner. Edited by Anisa Samarxhiu, digital project manager, CFE Media, asamarxhiu@cfemedia.com.

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