OK, you've selected your new fleet maintenance system, but you don't have the staff or the time to implement it yourself. That's where we come in.

FTI's field staff will help manage and perform every step of the process, from implementation design and planning through the transition to daily use. During the past 20 years, we've implemented fleet systems for 65 of the largest transportation companies, public utilities, and municipalities in North America and we'd like to work for you, too.

Here's how:

Implementation Design
Automated fleet systems are big and complicated, and you'll need to start the project by designing the implementation. That's where we come in.

We'll conduct a series of design workshops that identify the business requirements that must be met, the degree of automation you expect from the system, the way the new system must interact with others throughout the enterprise, the key reports that must be generated, and the resources you can commit to the project.

Each workshop will be attended by the "owners" of each of the processes to be addressed by the new system. Each process owner will present information to the group so that a common understanding of objectives and priorities can be achieved. Where necessary, FTI will document the existing workflow and make recommendations for change that support the smoothest possible implementation.

Project Plan
You wouldn't build a house without a plan, and you shouldn't implement your fleet system without a project plan. That's where we come in.

FTI will help you build a detailed project plan, using Microsoft Project, that clearly identifies all of the tasks, resources, dependencies, and constraints. We'll show you how to use the plan to project costs, identify the critical path, and complete the implementation on time, within your budget.

Project Management
A project plan isn't much good without a project manager. But, you might not be able to provide one. That's where we come in.

FTI will assign a seasoned project manager who knows both systems and fleets. Our project managers can provide insights and guidance that will save time, money and aggravation.

Data Conversion
The project is underway, the software is loaded, and everyone's staring at a bunch of blank screens, because there isn't any data in the system. That's where we come in.

Guided by the implementation design, FTI will map the conversion from existing automated or manual data sources and supply conversion routines to populate the new system's database. We'll filter out bad data and provide routines that create additional data required by the system from rules.

Documentation
So now your new system's loaded with data and everyone's anxious to get going. You flip through the manuals to learn how to use the system, but you're overwhelmed by functions that don't really pertain to you. That's where we come in.

FTI will adapt the software vendor's manuals to your specific needs and terminology. Where possible, we'll customize the online help files and make sure your users have job aids and cheat sheets that help them learn to use the system the way you want it used.

End-User Training
There's not much the folks in the shop can do with the new system without formal training. But, you might not have the time or resource to do the training yourself. That's where we come in.

Relying on the job aids and customized documentation, FTI will train your staff in the system skills required to perform their day-to-day roles within the shop. We will develop specialized courses for maintenance supervisors, mechanics, parts administrators, and the fleet administration staff. Training aids, like the other documentation we produce, will use your terminology and examples from your fleet operation.

Custom Programming
No matter how you cut it, your new fleet system still misses the mark in a few areas. You can adapt to the system, or you can adapt the system to you. That's where we come in.

FTI can provide system design and custom programming services that extend the functionality of your new system without compromising its architecture or the maintenance agreement with your software vendor. We can tweak the system without breaking it, we can produce and integrate custom reports, and we can wrap a modern report writer around the database for power users who love to poke around on their own. Click here to let us know about your needs for custom programming services.

Implementation Audits
The implementation design always includes "success criteria" so you can determine if the implementation is a success. But, after the first three or four months of operation, it's easy to get sidetracked by other priorities. That's where we come in.

FTI will perform periodic implementation audits to identify successes and opportunities for improvement. We'll help you understand why some things worked, why some things failed, and what can be done to benefit from these experiences.