System and methods of mobile field inspection

• US 20050246217A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobile Field Inspection LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobile Field Inspection LLC
• Inventors: Horn, Mark W.
• Application Number:
  US10/978,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246217A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system and methods for managing janitorial, security, lighting, and temporary labor services provided to commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail facilities. The present invention comprises a system and methods for managing facility services though a mobile field inspection system. The mobile field inspection system provides a wireless network that enables a facility manager to supervise the performance of services by other employees at a particular facility. The present invention further comprises a system and methods for performing a series of quality inspections of a facility to ensure that services are performed satisfactorily. Additionally, the present invention provides a constant, proactive communication between the facilities contractor/manager and the customer purchasing the services. Further, the present system comprises a system and methods for performing services and inspections using systematically positioned barcodes for efficient tracking and reporting purposes.

Claims

1. A system for mobile field inspection, the system comprising:

a server system adapted to maintain a set of services to be scheduled and conducted at a first facility, wherein said server system is configured to provide a first set of tasks to a first user for performance of said set of tasks at said first facility;

a first communication device associated with said first user of said first facility, said first communication device adapted to receive said first set of tasks from said server system and provide service data to said server system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first communication device comprises a scanning device adapted to scan barcodes such that each barcode represents a characteristic of at least one task of said first set of tasks.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first communication device is further adapted to provide scanned barcode data and a timestamp to said server system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a storage unit adapted to store service data received by said server system from said first communication device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first communication device is a wireless communication device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said server system is further adapted to provide said first communication device with an inspection for said first facility.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first communication device is further adapted to provide inspection data received by said first user of said first facility to said server system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said server system is further adapted to

determine whether at least one service deficiency exists based on said inspection data;

and

generate a second set of tasks for a second user of said facility, if said server system determines that at least one service deficiency exists.

9. A method of quality management for janitorial services, said method comprising the steps of:

designating a set of specifications for a facility;

performing a series of inspections of said facility;

providing a list of deficiencies to a predetermined contact of said facility;

resolving said list of deficiencies; and

communicating resolution of said list of deficiencies to said predetermined contact.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein designating a set of specifications for a facility comprises designating a set of tasks to be performed at said facility and determining a frequency as to which said set of tasks will be performed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein resolving said list of deficiencies comprises generating a set of work orders associated with said list of deficiencies to be performed by a user of said facility.

12. A method of managing inspections for janitorial services, the method comprising the steps of:

creating an inspection order for a facility, wherein said inspection evaluates a list of services provided at said facility;

scheduling said inspection order;

dispatching said inspection order;

performing said inspection by a user of said facility, wherein inspection data is collected by said user;

creating a work order, if said inspection discovers a list of deficiencies in said list of services;

performing a follow-up inspection, if said work order is created; and

providing an inspection report based on said collected inspection data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein creating an inspection order for a facility comprises the steps of:

providing job data to a storage unit for storage, wherein said job data identifies the types of services to be performed at said facility;

providing customer data to a storage unit for storage, wherein said customer data identifies a customer associated with said facility;

setting a correspondence between said job data and said customer data;

designating at least one contact to be associated with said job data; and

designating at least one user of said facility to be associated with said job data, wherein said at least one user provides services at said facility.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein scheduling said inspection order comprises the steps of:

creating a systematic inspection flow based on layout of said facility;

creating an inspection based on said systematic inspection flow;

scheduling a frequency of said inspection, wherein said frequency indicates how often said inspection is conducted.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein dispatching said inspection order comprises the steps of:

providing said inspection order to a contact associated with said facility; and

providing said inspection order to a user of said facility, wherein said user conducts said inspection order.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a predetermined due date for said inspection order to said contact; and

providing said predetermined due date to said user.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein performing said inspection comprises the steps of:

conducting said inspection by said user;

providing inspection data to a storage unit for storage, wherein said inspection data is collected by said user; and

providing a report of said inspection.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein creating a work order comprises the steps of:

determining whether said inspection discovered a list of deficiencies in said list of services;

performing a first sequence, if said inspection discovered a list of deficiencies, said first sequence comprising the steps of;

providing a work order to a first employee of said facility, wherein said first employee completes said word order; and

providing a follow-up inspection to a second employee of said facility, wherein said second employee conducts said follow-up inspection.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein performing a follow-up inspection comprises the steps of:

performing said follow-up inspection by a user of said facility;

determining whether said list of deficiencies have been resolved;

providing a report indicating that said list of deficiencies have been resolved, if said list of deficiencies have been resolved.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein providing an inspection report comprises the steps of:

providing said inspection report to a storage unit;

providing said inspection report to a communication device for display; and

providing a statistical analysis of said inspection report to a communication device for display.

21. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for quality management for janitorial services, the computer-executable instructions performing the steps of:

designating a set of specifications for a facility;

performing a series of inspections of said facility;

providing a list of deficiencies to a predetermined contact of said facility;

resolving said list of deficiencies; and

communicating resolution of said list of deficiencies to said predetermined contact.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein designating a set of specifications for a facility comprises designating a set of tasks to be performed at said facility and determining a frequency as to which said set of tasks will be performed.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein resolving said list of deficiencies comprises generating a set of work orders associated with said list of deficiencies to be performed by a user of said facility.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for managing inspections for janitorial services, the computer-executable instructions performing the steps of:

creating an inspection order for a facility, wherein said inspection evaluates a list of services provided at said facility;

scheduling said inspection order;

dispatching said inspection order;

performing said inspection by a user of said facility, wherein inspection data is collected by said user;

creating a work order, if said inspection discovers a list of deficiencies in said list of services;

performing a follow-up inspection, if said work order is created; and

providing an inspection report based on said collected inspection data.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein creating an inspection order for a facility comprises the steps of:

providing job data to a storage unit for storage, wherein said job data identifies the types of services to be performed at said facility;

providing customer data to a storage unit for storage, wherein said customer data identifies a customer associated with said facility;

setting a correspondence between said job data and said customer data;

designating at least one contact to be associated with said job data; and

designating at least one user of said facility to be associated with said job data, wherein said at least one user provides services at said facility.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein scheduling said inspection order comprises the steps of:

creating a systematic inspection flow based on layout of said facility;

creating an inspection based on said systematic inspection flow;

scheduling a frequency of said inspection, wherein said frequency indicates how often said inspection is conducted.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein dispatching said inspection order comprises the steps of:

providing said inspection order to a contact associated with said facility; and

providing said inspection order to a user of said facility, wherein said user conducts said inspection order.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a predetermined due date for said inspection order to said contact; and

providing said predetermined due date to said user.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein performing said inspection comprises the steps of:

conducting said inspection by said user;

providing inspection data to a storage unit for storage, wherein said inspection data is collected by said user; and

providing a report of said inspection.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein creating a work order comprises the steps of:

determining whether said inspection discovered a list of deficiencies in said list of services;

performing a first sequence, if said inspection discovered a list of deficiencies, said first sequence comprising the steps of;

providing a work order to a first employee of said facility, wherein said first employee completes said word order; and

providing a follow-up inspection to a second employee of said facility, wherein said second employee conducts said follow-up inspection.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein performing a follow-up inspection comprises the steps of:

performing said follow-up inspection by a user of said facility;

determining whether said list of deficiencies have been resolved;

providing a report indicating that said list of deficiencies have been resolved, if said list of deficiencies have been resolved.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein providing an inspection report comprises the steps of:

providing said inspection report to a storage unit;

providing said inspection report to a communication device for display; and

providing a statistical analysis of said inspection report to a communication device for display.