Data Management & System Implementation Flashcards
5.1 Collect data
The most rudimentary method for data collection in the FIMS is manual
5.1.1 What are Business analytics and why are they important? (p.141)
- Basically, fleet business analytics are all the metrics or performance indicators which are essential for best-in-class fleet management
- Including improving efficiencies and reducing cost as well as for fleet reporting to the stakeholders within the organization
- Providers have recently begun to use the term Business Intelligence or BI which is largely synonymous with Business Analytics
5.1.2 What is manual data entry and why is it inefficient? (p.141)
- The most rudimentary method for data collection in the FIMS is manual which means the data is transcribed from paper into the system by a data entry person
- This is a very inefficient method and it is subject to entry errors, so the progressive fleets do not utilize this method
- This said, there is data entered manually in the course of a fleet person’s job which the FIMS can extract and put into the database
5.1.3 What is meant by data collection through the systems backend? (p.141)
- The data is contained in a document with a format which is acceptable by the FIMS (e.g.Excel, CSV, etc.) and the database administrator (DBA) uploads this into the FIMS database.
- This method is used for a one-time importation of data in the system ( Excel Data loader )
5.1.4 What is Real-time data collection, give an example. (p.142)
- The web services method and protocol are used in cases where the data is required in real-time.
- A good example for real-time data requirement is fuel transaction data importation into the FIMS.
5.1.6 Define Batch data collection and give an example. (p.142)
- The After-the-Fact or Batch data collection is non real-time data
- The transmission frequency can be daily, weekly or monthly which has to be predefined and set-up
- Batch Example: A fleet organization has outsourced its maintenance and repair function to a company called “MtceCo”.
- MtceCo uses their own system for the maintenance and repair functions
- They are required to provide Work Order information on a daily basis for the vehicles they have touched on that day
- Their system creates a file with vehicle identification number and the salient work order information which is sent at the end of the day to their customer’s FIMS
- This is clearly a batch operation with the daily flat file transported over the internet File Transport Protocol (FTP) to the FIMS.
- MtceCo’s system must have an up-to-date list of vehicles which are active.
- The customer’s FIMS sends a file with the required vehicle information at the end of each day to the MtceCo’s system using the same methodology, i.e. flat file over FTP
- In another example, a daily invoice file is sent to the FIMS from a vehicle parts supplier using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) format over FTP.
5.1.7 What is a barcode and how is it used? (p.143)
- A barcode is a representation of data which identifies the object to which it is attached
5.1.8 What is the difference between a one dimensional and two dimensional barcode? (p.143)
- In the 1D, the data is represented by varying the width and spacing
- Later on this evolved to the 2D which uses rectangles, dots, hexagons, etc
5.1.9 How can a barcode be useful to a fleet application? (p.143-144)
- This area is generically called the Automatic Identification & Data Capture (AIDC)
- The barcode found on products uses the Universal Product Code (UPC).
* The simplicity, low cost and universality of barcodes make it very useful in parts and parts inventory management for fleets.
5.1.10 What is RFID and what are the advantages to it? (p.144)
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): FID requires a radio frequency transmitter which contains the product information and it is called the RFID Tag
- The main advantage of RFID technology is that the tag reader does not need to be in the line of sight of the Tag whereas the optical scanner for the barcode must
be able to “see” the barcode. - RFID technology is still somewhat expensive
- The vehicle OEM uses RFID to track where a particular vehicle is in the manufacturing process or in the shipping process.
5.1.11 What is a smart label? (p.144)
- A Smart Label is an item identification tag or slip which is more technologically advanced than the barcode.
- The most common Smart Labels utilize QR codes, specifically configured RFID tags and Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tag
- RFID tag-based smart labels are commonly used in manufacturing. They consist of a flat configuration of an RFID tag inserted into an item identification slip
- EAS tag Smart Label is commonly used to prevent theft of books from a bookstore or library
5.1.12 What are shortcut codes and what are they used for? (p.144-145)
- The trend in FIMS is to use radio buttons and pull down menus to quickly get to the module or the function you need.
- Some FIMS provide shortcut codes which are similar to ones used in Microsoft Office applications
5.2 Data conventions and standards
There is no shortage of data conventions and standards when it comes to fleet management.
5.2.1 What is the NAFA vehicle classification code? (p.147)
- NAFA created the Standard Vehicle and Equipment Classification Code in order to address the deficiencies which existed at that time with the other classification
schema.
5.2.2 What is the purpose of the NAFA vehicle classification code? (p.147)
The goal of the NAFA classification standard is to meet the following requirements:
• Can be used for vehicle and equipment classification.
• Is comprehensive, flexible and customizable for any fleet application
• Ensures a given vehicle or equipment fits only one category.
• Provides cross-referencing for other classification schema.
• Enables reporting standard for benchmarking or comparisons of various fleets
5.2.3 What is GVWR and how is it used to classify vehicles? (p.148)
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) - The GVWR based method provides a common parameter which differently purposed fleets can easily use
5.2.4 What are the nine class codes in NAFA’s system? (p.148)
Code (Position 1) Class Code (Position 1) Class
0 Non self-propelled
1 <8500 GVW
2 8501- 10,000 GVW
3 10,001- 14,000 GVW
4 14,001- 16,000 GVW
5 16,001- 19,500 GVW
6 19,501- 26,000 GVW
7 26,001- 33,000 GVW
8 >33,000 GVW
9 Off Road and Construction
5.2.5 What does the first number in NAFA’s class code system represent? (p.148)
- The first digit is the most significant and organizes vehicles and equipment in broad segments or Class Codes
5.2.6 What does the second number in NAFA’s class code system represent? (p.149)
- Position 2 identifies the general physical or operating category
5.2.7 What is the “Service Code” that is contained in position 3 of NAFA’s coding system? (p.149)
- Using the example of a van, Position 3 will contain “1” for Service type “Window” and “2” for Service type “Cargo.”
5.2.8 What is the “User Code” that is contained in position 5 of NAFA’s coding system? (p.150)
- User Code is contained in Position 5 and up and it is defined by the fleet user to create custom classification categories in order to meet the specific needs of
a given fleet.