The Failure Data Portal (FDP) is Free Software and a Free Open Source Solution (FOSS) designed for companies who do equipment or unit repairs and want to track and control the repair process. FDP gives you the ability to track individual repairs units from the time the customer initiates a request, through the actual repair process and return back to the customer. It is an RMA (Return Material Authorization) system that allows your customers to enter an RMA over the web and track the status through receipt of the units, repair and return. And it gives you the control over the receiving and repair process. You can use FDS for running your entire business or export the repair orders into a legacy system for customer billing.
The Failure Data Portal is not yet up on Sourceforge.net as free software available for download. However, if you would like a copy now, please contact us.
FDP gives you control over the repair process, and information to help you analyze trends and technical product issues.
The Failure Data Portal allows you to track individual units and equipment that are being repaired and also give your Customer timely web access to repair status. FDP works in conjunction with other 2nd Derivative eBusiness Portals.
A little Technical Information
Originally written in Java in 2003 to address world wide equipment repair and warranty requirements. FDP has evolved into a web base application that handles end user submissions, receipt and verification of equipment, repair, costing, invoicing and warranty claims, equipment and parts inventory, consignment inventory, real time status and email confirmation of key status, interfacing to manufacturing systems, partner systems, and customer systems. Unique and highly customized on the 2D base. It is an excellent solution for those who need to service and multi-tier repair/warranty network (Direct, Sub-Contractors and Partners, and end Customers).
The Failure Data System runs on a small footprint linux server. We normally use Ubuntu linux, Apache and Tomcat and recommend on open source SSL certificate to help protect the data over the internet. Randr is dedicated to Free Open Source Software. We are working to get the Failure Data System up to source forge as FOSS software but in the meantime we will provide the source code to all of our customers regardless of the license type for free. Please use the request form from the menu on the left.
Support
FDS is an excellent solution for companies that are primarily manufacturers but also do their own repair. It also works well for companies where your primary business is repair. It can easily be run in house or works well as a Hosted Solution over the web. Randr is always available for questions and support, but if you want some additional support, Installation assistance is available through http://www.e-co2solutionservices.com which has extensive experience installing FDS in international repair companies and partners with Randr on the Failure Data System.
Product Details
End User Customers can enter repairs directly into the Order Portal and then send in the units using the Order Portal RMA as the transmittal document. The repair order is automatically pushed into the 2nd Derivative Order Entry Portal and the customer has the status available through the web.
When the units are received, the status for each unit is changed to received status. At that time you can link equipment and serial # information which will be used for historical reporting. Receiving automatically triggers creation of the Failure Data Work Order.
As the technician or mechanic repairs the unit, they can log in repair time, enter comments, select the problems and symptoms from drop down lists. Parts using in the repair are entered. If a part is needed, the FDP allows the technician to send a email requesting the part.
When the repair is completed, the technician flags the Failure Data Work Order as completed. This automatically updates the Customer order line as completed and any parts that were used are added to the customer order. The order can be invoiced and the customer billed.
The customer has visibility of repair status through a secure web sign in. Detail on every repair is available for download for independent analysis of failure cause, frequency, etc. In addition, the Information Portal provides historical information on repairs by equipment and equipment type.
The Warranty Reconciliation Subsystem, which is part of the Financial Portal, works in conjunction with the Failure Data Portal. If a technician flags a repair a warranty, this is updated automatically back to the customer order.
2nd Derivative allows you to track warranties by vendor with our Warranty Reconciliation system in the Financial Portal. This gives you control over warranties that you have not be reimbursed for and gives you visibility into the warranty detail.
Historical information on warranties by customer and equipment are available through the Information Portal.