EM - April/May 2011 - (Page 18)

ESB Networks Ltd. Apr/May 2011 www.esb.ie/em 18 Smart Networks Award ESB Networks Ltd, page 19 Optimised Scheduling System for Meter Works Service orders 8ESB Networks Distribution and Customer Services are prepared for Go Live Completion of FÀS Apprentice initiative IN AprIL 2009, esB announced a series of initiatives to create and sustain jobs and training opportunities in the economy. Among these initiatives, esB committed to facilitate 400 redundant apprentices to gain their on-the-job work experience during 2009-10. The programme has proven very successful for apprentices, who were made redundant and were unable to source an employer to complete their apprenticeship. This initiative could not have happened without the leadership, support and mentoring of esB Network’s supervisors and Network Technicians. It has been a very positive learning experience for everyone involved, with esB staff reporting that they found it “refreshing and insightful to have the FÀs Apprentices working with us for the past two years”. In January 2011 FÀs announced a new initiative around training of redundant apprentices and invited esB to participate in the scheme. esB Networks was delighted to support the initiative given the positive experience we had with the 2009/2010 scheme where we helped 400 electrical and a small number of mechanical apprentices progress through their apprenticeship. During 2011, we are committed in partnership with FÀs to helping about 60 electrical and 10 Motor Mechanics complete their training. The numbers involved this year are (l-r): Peter Egan, FÀS Regional Manager, Charlie Walsh FÀS Athlone, Maria Dempsey ESB Network, and Gerry Whelan ESB HR Manager. Some of the SSC Team preparing to visit the outdoor Networks at the Portlaoise Training Centre. ESB Telecoms The key purpose of the new optimised scheduling system system is to support the supervisor with the scheduling aspect of work order management. The optimised scheduling system will ensure that the right Meter Works service orders (MWsos) (e.g. New Connection Metering, service Alterations, De-energisations, Voltage complaints, etc.) are automatically scheduled (optimised) to the right Network Technician throughout the day. For the first time in Networks, all the meter works service orders associated with the Customer services supervisor can be scheduled in real time and can be dynamically adjusted as priorities change throughout the day. once this optimised scheduling system is in place it will provide a platform to schedule many other types of work orders (operations, Maintenance and small construction jobs) in the future. A dedicated schedule support Centre (ssC) based in Wilton has been set up to support the supervisor, Network Technicians and system. The centre will be the hub between the supervisor, the oss system and the Network Technicians schedules. The ssC centre will assist the supervisors to fit the differing work order types around the availability of the hundreds of Network Technicians nationally to ensure the right work goes to the right staff, with the right skills in the right place to maximise the working day. Furthermore, the ssC will provide support to the Network Technicians (e.g. information, adjustment of schedule where snags arise etc) throughout the day. The Schedule Support Centre (SSC) At the time of writing preparations were at an advanced stage in setting up the ssC and over the last couple of months it has been a hive of activity. Following a recruitment and selection process two team leaders and 26 team members were appointed to the centre. A number of the team members, have been working with the oss project and the experience gained there has now been focussed on ensuring the Centre and system is fit for purpose. In addition, there are two Technical & procedural support positions within the ssC, which are being filled by two of our supervisors who have vast experience of this area of our business SSC staff readiness The ssC team commenced their training in February with an induction programme which included a Technical Appreciation course hosted by the Training Centre in portlaoise. This technical appreciation along with a safety awareness programme delivered by the sTss in the southern Division will ensure that the new team members have a perspective on the environment that the network Technician has to work in. This was followed by training in the new systems. (Isu, Click scheduling, phr, Framme Web View). The team also has had to assimilate itself with the numerous business processes and procedures that bind our business together. each Team Member will be responsible for looking after a number of planner groups (previously called an ‘AreA’) and to assist with the smooth transition to this new system the ssC team will visit planner groups to meet the supervisors and Network Technicians and Area Clerical officers with whom they will be working closely. Ensuring business readiness Business readiness Testing (BrT) commenced in March. one purpose of BrT is to provide practice for the ssC team in end to end processes using the systems. Another purpose is to assess Mary Corcoran and Veronica Dilworth in Training. the system and processes to see that all is ok for go live. BrT testing also includes staff from the oss project, the Technical performance Team and the Local Implementation Team (LIT). Facilities ready The facilities in Wilton are complete and the ssC will be located on the first floor in Wilton adjacent to the current esB Networks’ operations Dispatch office. New infrastructure has been provided in the form of pC’s, large screens, desks and a fully resilient telecoms solution has been developed for the ssC with the help of Telecom services and Telecom operations. System ready As part of getting the system ready, the five Distribution and Customer services Divisions have been looking at the existing volumes of MWsos and deciding which ones will be cut over into oss. Furthermore, our Customer services supervisors will be submitting dates and times of planned availability of their Network Technicians for MWsos for the first two weeks post go live, e.g. planned leave, planned switching, training releases, meetings, briefings, etc . This information is critical as without it the system will not know who is available or unavailable for MWso work. This data will be inputted into the system in the week before go live and weekly after that. With only a couple of weeks before Go Live, it’s all hands on deck to ensure a successful launch on the Tuesday 26th April 2011. n Any queries can be sent to OSSinfo@esb.ie. More information can be got on the networks intranet site http://esbnet/oss reduced due to the growth in our overall apprentice population, given that we have taken in 200 school leavers in the past two years. The induction and safety training for the first group of FÀs apprentices for the 2011 scheme will be on March 28th. The experience esB Networks staff have gained to date from working with these young apprentices, who showed genuine appreciation for the opportunity afforded to them by esB Networks, has been very positive. We are confident that this new programme will prove as successful for all concerned. Both programmes have been managed very effectively and efficiently by Julia Mannion from FÀs and Maria Dempsey, esB Networks Training Centre, portlaoise, with support and help from the recruitment & selection team in shared services. n FÀS Regional Manager Peter Egan speaking at the Induction at the FÀS centre in Athlone. Apprentice Lauren Dillon Hunt along with the rest of the class at the Induction at FÀS Athlone. Snow better read! No better way to take your mind off the wait for Santa than reading EM! http://www.esb.ie/em http://esbnet/oss

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of EM - April/May 2011

EM - April/May 2011
In This Issue
News
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ESB Networks Ltd
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EM - April/May 2011