Service#

The following features expand standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central¹ functionality to provide additional options to those working in your organization’s service department.

Setup#

Role center#

A role center called medtec365 Service has been added to the standard service area, providing you with an overview of ongoing tasks and an easy way to select and open pages relevant to your work.

You can find the role under the My Settings page.

Work with tiles#

The medtec365 Service role center contains multiple cue tiles, each filtered to one or more of the repair statuses specified on service item lines. You can therefore use the tiles alone to finish most tasks in the service area.

The statuses can be changed in Service Management Setup.

Service Orders – Open

Service Activities – Technicians

Service Orders – Estimates

Service Orders – In Process

Service Orders – Custom

The four tiles in this section can be customized in Service Management Setup to suit your needs.

Service Management Setup#

General#

Defaults#

Activities#

On this FastTab, you can specify the actions that will be added to the Lines FastTab ribbon above service item lines and service lines.

Scrapping#

Cue Filter#

Here you can remove or add the repair status filters set on each cue tile on the role center.

Free to Use#

On this FastTab, you can customize four tiles that you can then filter for their repair status.

Service order types#

You can use service order types to categorize orders by the type of service provided and store different settings for each. To set up a type:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Service Order Types, and then choose the related link.
2. On the ribbon, choose New.
3. Fill in the fields as described in the following table.

You can also choose Actions > Service Activity Templ. Setup on the ribbon to specify for each order type one or more service item group codes that should be linked to an activity template code.

The template codes are then stored on the relevant item lines, whereas the activities from the template are added to the Service Activity Groups FactBox.

When you choose New Case on the ribbon of a customer, marketing cockpit, or serial number information card, the system copies the service order type entered in Service Management Setup to the new document provided the case was set up for repairs or maintenance purposes (see Service Management Setup – General).

However, if no default value is specified, the Service Order Type field remains empty on the service order.

When you create an order for inbound services, the order type is also retrieved from Service Management Setup (again, provided the type is specified there). When you create an order from a complaint registered in sales, the system fills in the type that was selected as the default type.

When a service order is created in the maintenance cockpit, the order type is copied from the associated service contract.

Order types and payment terms#

You can assign payment terms to a service order type, to replace those stored in the customer master. To assign terms to a type:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Service Order Types, and then choose the related link.
2. On the ribbon, choose New. Alternatively, choose Edit List to edit a type that already exists.
3. Fill in the Payment Terms Code field.

When you create a service order, it is initially filled in with service order type Default. The system then checks if payment terms are available for the order type. If so, the terms are used. If none exist, the terms are copied from the relevant customer card.

When you edit a service order type, the system runs the same check again to update the payment terms, if necessary. The same applies when you change a customer on an order. If no payment terms are assigned to the new type, the terms will be copied from the customer, as mentioned earlier.

Service activity groups#

Service activity groups are used to set up the activities (such as the creation of cost estimates, the loan of equipment, and scrapping) that might occur during repairs.

You can store different settings for each activity so that multiple activities might be possible, which will depend on, for example, the location where services are carried out. A group consists of standard service codes (=activities) assigned to it.

When you run an activity group, the system automatically limits the pool of available activities based on the circumstances of the case you’re working on or allows you to select a suitable code. With the help of service activity templates, the groups can be combined into a sort of a work schedule.

In Service Management Setup, you can also specify groups that can be run from the ribbon of service (item) lines (see Service Management Setup – Activities).

Service activity templates#

These templates specify the individual steps for repairs and maintenance.

Each template is linked to a service order type and a service item group so that it is automatically filled in on the relevant item lines when you create a service order. All steps are also listed in the Service Activity Groups FactBox. To set up a template:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Service Activity Templates, and then choose the related link.
2. On the ribbon, choose New.
3. Fill in a code and a description for the template.
4. Choose View on the ribbon to open the Service Activity Template Card.
5. Choose New Line to fill in an activity group code, and then repeat the process as necessary.

Service Activity Template Setup#

On this page, you can specify per service order type one or more service item group codes that should be linked to a service activity template. When you later enter an item on a service order, the system checks the service order type and the item group code for a link to an activity template.

If a link exists, the activity template code is automatically entered in the field with the same name on the relevant service item line. Additionally, the steps that make up the activity will be listed in the Service Activity Groups FactBox.

Standard service codes#

These codes are used to assign certain settings to service activities, such as BOM or cost estimate creation, equipment rental, or item returns and scrapping.

Each standard service code can be assigned to an activity group. Based on a variety of parameters, the system then determines the relevant activity from the context of the case or allows you to manually select a suitable code.

The values that you specify on service code cards are filled in on a service order or a service line automatically when you start an activity from there.

Standard Service Code Card#

General#

Lines#

Standard service item groups#

With the help of standard service item group codes, you can set up BOMs for repair and maintenance purposes. Items and resources that are relevant to either are therefore entered on standard service code cards. If necessary, you can also specify a quantity on every card.

To see the standard service item group codes, choose the relevant function on the ribbon.

You can assign one service type (such as repairs or maintenance) to each standard service item group and then store the group in the field with the same name on the relevant item card.

Standard Service Item Group Setup#

On the Standard Serv. Item Gr. Setup page, you can link standard service item groups to standard service codes. If no link is specified, an activity applies to all groups.

Repair Status Setup#

Each service item line contains a repair status code, showing the status of the line. The tiles on the medtec365 role center are also filtered to the statuses available in the system.

Depending on setup, some statuses automatically change when you post a certain document. You can, however, also set or change a status manually at any time.

The Status menu item on the Lines FastTab ribbon above service item and service lines provides additional statuses that can be set by users.

You specify all required repair statuses in Repair Status Setup, where you can enter codes and descriptions for the services that are rendered. To see the page, use the Search icon, enter Repair Status Setup, and then choose the related link.

To ensure that the status of repairs is correctly set on a line, you also need to assign an activity status to each code in setup. Options are:

• (blank)
• New Order
• Receipt to Check
• Receipt OK
• Items OK
• To Inspect
• Inspected
• New Purch. Order
• Estimate Sent
• Send Estimate
• Estimate Not Reqd.
• Estimate Accepted
• Estimate Rejected
• Service Released
• Service Started
• Service OK
• Service Not OK
• Shipment OK
• Scrapped
• Finished

For more information, see Set Up Statuses for Service Orders and Repairs.

Service inspection groups#

On service item lines and service lines, you can use a two-stage process for ordering items so that you can store any number of technical inspections on the top level, the Service Inspection Group. To set up a group for technical inspections:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Service Inspection Groups, and then choose the related link.
2. On the ribbon, choose New.
3. Fill in a code and description for the group.
4. On the ribbon, choose Inspections, and then enter all potential settings that you want to make available for later.

Service Inspections Setup#

All potential defects that might result from the service inspections in a group are specified on this page. You can store multiple types of inspections per group.

Service Contract Setup#

On this page, you store the service agreements that you enter into with customers.

The values that you specify here are automatically filled in on service orders in the fields with the same name.

Solution codes#

These codes can be used to specify individual agreements made after consulting with a customer. You store the codes on the Service Contract Setup page. They’re then shown on service item lines automatically.

You can also store activity template codes on the Solutions page, as an alternative option for having the template codes filled in on item lines later.

Service receipts#

On this page, you store all warehouse receipts used for rendering technical services.

You can store any item on this page, regardless of whether it is tracked or whether it has already been set up in the system. This means that if a customer sends multiple items back for repair, all of them can be entered here.

To set up a receipt:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Service Receipts, and then choose the related link.
2. On the ribbon, choose New.
3. Like on a service order, the quantity on each line is 1 and cannot be changed. You therefore must create one line for each item you want to record a receipt for (even if all of them are from the same lot).
4. The location and bin codes are filled in automatically but can be changed per line, if necessary.
5. As for the External Document No. field, you can set up whether the number is required by turning on the relevant toggle in Purchases & Payables Setup. Filling in the Your Reference field is optional.
6. The relevant customer number can be entered manually or selected by using the Assist button next to the field. The same goes for the serial, lot, and item number fields. You can also choose a ship-to code, if necessary.

When you enter a serial, a lot, or an item number on a line, you see a dialog box with the fields related to the record already filled in if the number is set up in the system.

When you enter the serial number, the system also checks whether the customer on the associated serial number information card is identical to the customer specified on the line. If the serial number isn’t set up for the combination of item and customer number you’ve entered, you see a message about it and are asked whether you want to continue. Choosing Yes and posting the receipt will replace the customer number on the serial number information card automatically.

If the entered serial or lot number isn’t available, you can specify an item number and (potentially) a variant code, an expiration date, a manufacturing date, and a customer number in the dialog box during posting and a new serial or lot number information card will be set up by the system.

If the tracking code assigned to the item requires that you enter a variant code or an expiration date or a manufacturing date, you can edit the fields in the box. Otherwise, they’re grayed out.

After you choose OK, the information you entered in the box is automatically filled in on the Lines FastTab.

When you post the receipt, a return order is posted by the system and a new service order is created. You see a message if the data that you specified is incomplete, for example, because the customer or the item is blocked.

The posted return order is also automatically linked to a case document so that you can view it again at any time.

You might see another message if the receipt cannot be used because an item with this serial number is already in inventory. You can then repost the item in the service area, regardless of whether the related service order has been completed.

You can also specify accessories on each line. For more information about the topic, see Manage Accessories.

Additionally, you can use the Inspection Codes action on the ribbon to enter a code for inspections on each line. The codes are then copied to the related service order when you post shipment lines and can be used to, for example, record damage that occurred during transportation. For more information, see Inspection Codes.

External Document No.#

When you store an external document number on receipt of service items, the number is copied automatically to the service item lines during posting and to the service quote and posted service shipment.

If available, you can already fill in this field when you create an order manually. The number is then copied to all subsequent documents, for example, when a service order is converted to a sales return and then to a service receipt.

If you create an order manually and fill in the field later, that is, on subsequent documents such as the sales return order or the service receipt, the number is still copied automatically to the service item lines after posting.

Create a sales return from a service order#

On the service order, you can use the Create Return Orders function to have a sales return order created based on service item lines.

Sales Line Details: FactBox#

On a sales return order, the No. of Service Item Lines field in the Sales Line Details FactBox shows how many open service orders exist for the customer and item that you entered on the selected line.

You can see the field at any time. You can also open the related service order via a lookup on the field, if necessary.

Track items on service lines#

The Lot No. field has been added to service items. If a service item is automatically created during a sale because you’ve selected the Create Service Item checkbox on the associated service item group record, the lot number is entered as well.

You can open the lot number information list from a service item card by using the Assist button next to the Lot No. field.

No distinction is made between serial and lot numbers on a service item line, where item tracking information is stored in the Item Tracking No. field.

The system automatically recognizes if a serial or lot number is stored for the item.

You can open the serial number or lot number information card from a service item line by using the relevant line function on the FastTab ribbon.

Destination Doc. No. on service quotes and orders#

On standard service code records, you can create the BOMs that you want to open on service quotes and orders and specify per line if the destination document type should be Service Sales or Service Consumption. You can also select the Print Line checkbox on a line, if necessary.

When you insert the BOM into a service quote or order, the standard service code configuration is then copied to the document but can be changed there manually.

Service order#

General#

A new field called Place of Servicing has been added to service order documents, to the General FastTab. It is filled in from Service Management Setup when you create an order but can be changed manually, if needed. The field is also later copied to the service item lines.

Lines#

All fields that have been added to service item lines are described in the following table.

Ribbon functions#

Accessories#

Run by choosing Lines > Line, shows the accessories entered during receipt of the service item on the selected line.

Serial No./Lot No. Info Card#

Used to drill down to the relevant serial or lot number information card.

Status#

The actions on this menu set the repair status of the selected lines to the specified status:

• Checked
• Evaluated
• Estimate Sent
• Send Estimate
• Estimate Accepted
• Estimate Rejected
• Service Released
• Service Started
• Service OK
• New Estimate (to remove To Estimate)
• Service Not OK
• Other Status

The Other Status action opens a list of all available repair statuses so that you can change the status for one or more selected lines.

If you set the repair status to Service OK, the Service Status field changes as well, to Finished; with the status set to Service Not OK, the Service Status field changes to Not Possible.

If you set the repair status to Estimate Sent, the system checks the amount entered on the service quote against the limit for cost estimates. If the amount is below the limit, the status is set to Estimate Not Reqd. and the quote line linked to the service line is set to Finished.

Activities#

The actions available on this menu were designed to give you quick access to the most important functions in the service area. Choosing a function runs one of the activity groups specified in Service Management Setup.

The impact of the Create Service action depends on where repairs are carried out. If a vendor repairs the items, you must first set up a purchase return order. Options are:

• Create Sales Return
• Create Purch. Return
• Create Estimate
• Create Service
• Create Shipment
• Create Review

You can also select more than one service item line before you run the function to have the activity performed for multiple lines at once.

Inspection Codes#

Found by choosing Line > Service, you can use this action to see the inspections stored for the selected line.

Service Lines#

Opens the card for the selected line.

Lines#

The fields that have been added to service lines are described in the following table.

Ribbon functions#

Status#

Sets the repair status on the selected lines to the specified value. You can choose from the following statuses:

• Checked
• Estimate Accepted
• Estimate Rejected
• Service Released
• Service Started
• Service OK
• Service Not OK

If you set the repair status to Service OK, the Service Status field changes as well, to Finished; with the status set to Service Not OK, the Service Status field changes to Not Possible.

Activities#

The actions available on this menu were designed to give you quick access to the most important functions in the service area. Choosing a function runs one of the activity groups specified in Service Management Setup.

Transfer items on service lines#

If you want to transfer an item during repairs, you can do so directly from the service line by setting up an activity or filling in the line fields manually. Should you decide to use the second option, you need to fill in certain fields on the line as described in the following table.

Service#

Found by choosing Line > Service, you can use this action to see the inspections stored for the selected line.

Posting#

Choose Post Consumption to post all lines that aren’t related to a service, loan, or substitution item, regardless of whether the destination document type is Service Sales or Consumption.

Choose Post Sale to post all lines that need to be invoiced and where the document type is Service Sales.

Factboxes#

The FactBoxes are identical to those on standard service orders.

Service order: FactBoxes#

Service Item Line Status#

This FactBox provides you with a quick overview of the selected line, including:

• Case No. and Case Line
• Place of Servicing
• Current Place
• Repair Status
• Estimate Limit

Service Activity Groups#

This FactBox is linked to the selected service item line. Activity groups are entered by the system based on the relevant service activity template code but can also be added manually to each line.

You can add, delete, or start activities from the box:

1. Go to the box and then select the relevant activity.
2. Click Service Activity Groups.
3. In the dialog box that appears, select one of the actions described in the following table.

Activities that have been carried out will be highlighted in green.

Service Activities#

This FactBox shows the activities that have been created, posted, or specified for the selected service item line. Their status is indicated by one of the following colors:

You can add, delete, or start activities from the box: 1. Go to the box and then select the relevant activity. 2. Click Service Activity Groups. 3. In the dialog box that appears, select the action that you want to run.

Activities that have been carried out will be highlighted in green.

Case Documents#

Every document started and posted from a service order is automatically stored with a case document. To see a document, click the number in the No. of Records field.

Change a ship-to code#

You can edit the Ship-to Code field, found on the Shipping FastTab, when you create a service order manually. After you edit the field, all service item lines and service lines filled in on the order are deleted. For this reason, we recommend that you enter a new code before you fill in everything else.

The field can no longer be changed when you’ve posted a sales return for the service order.

Complete an order#

A service order that is set to Finished isn’t automatically deleted from the system but must be removed manually.

Before you delete the order, make sure that the Finished checkbox is selected on all service lines. If it isn’t, the service order is only archived.

After the field is selected on all lines and the order is deleted (while being archived), you can choose Closed Cases (instead of Open Cases) on the associated customer or serial number information card to see the case document set up for the order.

Service quote#

You can create a service quote from the Service Activity Groups FactBox.

However, as data displayed in the Service Activity Groups and the Service Activities FactBoxes relates to a single line, the quote will be set up only for the item that was selected last.

If you want to create a quote for multiple items, select all of them and run the Activity – New Estimate function from the Lines FastTab ribbon. This opens the Service Item Lines page, where you can see all quotes that items have been entered on, except for quotes in the Finished status.

To copy the new items to an existing quote, select them and choose OK. To set up a new quote for them, choose Cancel.

When you set the status of a quote to Estimate Accepted, the Finished checkbox on the relevant service lines is selected automatically.

When the quote is set to Estimate Rejected, on the other hand, the checkbox is left blank so that you can edit the quote, if necessary. Alternatively, you can select the checkbox manually and create another quote.

If a quote isn’t required, you should also select the checkbox, as you can only delete service orders where Finished is selected on all lines.

General#

When you create a quote from a service order, the values in the Service Order Type and Case No. fields are automatically retrieved from the service header.

Lines#

When you convert a service order to a quote, the field values on the relevant service lines are copied to the quote as well.

Service quote#

The following fields have been added to service quote lines:

Ribbon functions#

Status#

Sets the repair status on the selected lines to the specified value. You can choose from the following statuses:

• New Inspection
• Estimate Sent
• Send Estimate
• Estimate Accepted
• Estimate Rejected

If you set the repair status to Estimate Sent, the system checks the amount entered on the service quote against the limit for cost estimates. If the amount is below the limit, the status is set to Estimate Not Reqd. and the quote line linked to the service line is set to Finished.

Other functions available on the ribbon are:

Activities#

The actions available on this menu were designed to give you quick access to the most important functions in the service area. Choosing an option here runs one of the activity groups specified in Service Management Setup.

The impact of the Create Service action depends on where repairs are carried out. If a vendor repairs the items, you must first set up a purchase return order. Options are:

• Create Sales Return
• Create Purch. Return
• Create Estimate
• Create Service
• Create Shipment
• Create Review

You can also select more than one service item line before you run the function to have the activity performed for multiple lines at once.

Service BOM#

Here you can specify the items and resources required for the service BOM by using the Selected checkbox. You also need to enter a quantity and can choose a variant if one is set up for the relevant item.

You can have a quantity filled in automatically as well. With the quantity already filled in, the Selected checkbox is also set by the system.

Additionally, you can choose Select All or Deselect All to specify what lines to run an action on.

Inspection Codes#

Found by choosing Line > Service, you can use this action to see the inspections stored for the selected line.

Key service activities#

Transportation#

Transportation activities typically relate to the movement of items that you intend to process in the service area.

To transport devices from, around, and to your locations, you need to select Item and Service Item in the Type and Relation fields on a standard service code line.

Afterward, the system copies the transaction code entered on the associated service item line to the service code line, where you can change it manually.

As posting transportation activities doesn’t lead to changes in item value, you should set the Not Billable field on the service code line to No Cost. If you fill in the Direction field, posting the movement of the item also updates the item’s current location (and its repair status code, if needed).

Typical document types

• Sales return receipts, on which you post the receipt of customer-owned items.
• Service orders for shipments to customers. Alternatively, you can create sales orders for this purpose.

For subcontracted repairs

• Purchase return shipments, on which you post item shipments to vendors.
• Purchase orders for returning items from vendors to your premises. However, these orders can also be classified as service activities and incorporated into the relevant activity groups.

Loans#

Loans are also transportation related. However, in this case, it’s not the service items that are being moved but additional items (typically equipment that is owned by your organization). The Relation field on the relevant standard service line must therefore be set to Loan.

As a loan often involves more than one item movement, you can use a template to cover inbound and outbound transportation. Alternatively, you can set up two, with each covering one direction.

The location that you enter on a standard service code line has priority over all other locations, which provides you with a way of entering an additional location for rental equipment here. What’s more, you can add a placeholder such as a resource line, for billing the use of a loaner based on time and materials.

Cost estimates#

Cost estimates are based on your evaluation of service cases and are supplemented by price data stored in the system. They can be created in the form of service quotes from service orders.

On the lines of a quote, you can then not only enter inspection codes but also specify planned consumption and sales, as well as retrieve values from a service BOM.

For creating a quote, the relation on the relevant standard service line must be set to Service Item and the destination document type to Service Quote. As every estimate contains prices, the Not Billable field also needs to be set to No.

Repairs and maintenance#

Of all service activities, these are the activities that depend on the largest variety of outside factors. As a result, more than one template will certainly have to be set up.

For example, services can be provided onsite or inhouse, or the equipment might be sent to a vendor, and the type of service order that you create can play a role as well.

The result of this might be that a different service BOM will be required for each job, based on the inspections you carried out and the estimates customers accepted, or a purchase order must be created to have equipment repaired by a supplier.

Scrapping#

To scrap an item, the Relation field on the relevant standard service line must be set to Service Item.

For single-stage disposal, you also need to select the Item Journal Removal option in the Destination Doc. Type field on the line.

For a two-stage scrapping process, the type must be set to Item Journal Transfer so that the item can be transferred to the scrap location that you’ve specified in Service Management Setup before its removal from that location must be posted manually.

Item substitution#

Typically, substitution means the receipt of new items, recognized as current assets.

You can use a template to decide whether a substitution item should be procured in the usual way—from inventory—or, if the item isn’t in stock, be purchased directly via a supplier or through the replenishment methods available in the system.

In either case, the Relation field on the relevant standard service line must be set to Substitution.

Other services#

Additionally, you can use resources to integrate other services such as sterilization, labeling, or quality control management into service workflows.

Service cases#

When you create a service order, the system also creates a service case document and classifies it according to the service order type entered on the order, indicating whether the services consist of repairs or maintenance.

A case classification can be stored for each type of service order that you set up in the system. If the field is left blank on the Service Order Type page, each new order that you create with this type is set automatically to Repairs. When you change the service order type, for example, from repairs to maintenance, the classification also changes.

The number of the case document is copied by the system to both the header and lines on a new service order. To see a certain case document, choose Open Cases on a customer, marketing cockpit, or serial number information card.

Each service line linked to a case is automatically filled in with all information that you need to render services, including the related item and lot number, description, variant code, and quantity.

If you create another document from a service order, such as a service quote, sales order, or purchase return order, the relevant case number is automatically copied to it. This way, you can see if a purchase or sales document is linked to a certain order and which documents are assigned to each other.

A case provides you with a quick overview of service order information and can be used, if needed, to create follow-ups, open a customer card, or see the documents that you’ve created or posted based on the service order.

For the system to create a case automatically, you must set up a number series for service cases in Service Management Setup.

Link serial or lot numbers to service items#

On every service item group, you can select the Create Service Item checkbox. When you sell an item, the system then checks if this checkbox is set for the group on the related item card. If it is, a service item is created automatically after you’ve posted the sales item as shipped.

If the item is tracked, the system also transfers the item’s serial or lot number to the service item, linking them to each other. Afterward, you can drill down on the service item card to open the associated serial or lot number information card.

When you enter the service item on a service order, the linked serial or lot number is also copied to the order, and you can again use a drill down to open the serial or lot number information card from there. At the same time, the Item No. and Serial or Lot No. fields are filled in on the order.

Additionally, the system checks whether the combination of (sales) item and serial or lot number already exists for a service item. If so, the existing number is inserted. If not, you can create a new service item from the order.

You can open a service item card by drilling down on the Service Item No. field in the serial number information list or on a serial number information card. You cannot do the same on the lot number list or a lot number card, as the service item number isn’t copied to either.

Pricing for service contracts#

Service contract pricing (labor and parts) has been extended to include the selected service order type and contract number. This way, you can specify customer-specific prices for the following service activities:

• Maintenance and repairs that a service contract was set up for (via the Contract No. field).
• Service orders that are created without reference to a contract.

Setup#

To be able to use the feature, you need to open the following pages (unless you’ve already specified the relevant records):

Sales Order Type#

1. On the ribbon, choose New.
2. Fill in a code and a description. All other fields have no impact on pricing.

Service Order Type#

1. On the ribbon, choose New to set up the service order type that you want to use contract pricing for.
2. Fill in the Sales Order Type Pricing field to assign a sales order type (such as the kind you’ve just created on the Sales Order Type page) to this type of service order.

Price List#

If you want to work with customer price or discount groups, you need to set them up here.

Fill in a group in the Assign to Type field on the price list header, and then specify, in percent, the required order type and discount on the lines.

Service Contract Card#

On the contract, fill in the Service Order Type field (and, possibly, the Customer Price Group or Customer Discount Group field).

Price update#

The Price Update % field, found on the Price Update FastTab on a service contract, can be used to store different price update percentages for contracts set up in the service area.

To configure the feature:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Update Service Contract Prices, and then choose the related link.
2. On the request page, in the Update Contracts field, choose one of the options described in the following table.

Workflow#

When you create a new service order, the system then enters on each service line the specified customer price or discount group and, in the Sales Order Type Pricing field, the sales order type linked to this type of service order.

Maintenance schedule and cockpit#

To improve the scheduling of service operations, the maintenance cockpit has been implemented as a link between service contracts and service orders. The cockpit can be used to show and schedule all maintenance work that is due and create the required service orders.

Setup#

Inspection types#

Before you can use this feature, you need to set up different inspection types. Each type represents a way of doing work in the service area, such as maintenance. You can create any number of inspection types.

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Inspection Types, and then choose the related link.
2. Fill in the fields as described in the following table.

Schedule templates#

These templates specify the intervals at which maintenance should be performed.

You can use the inspection types that you’ve set up to specify exactly what kind of servicing needs to be done. To fill in a template:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Maintenance Schedule Template List, and then choose the related link.
2. On the ribbon, choose New.
3. Enter an inspection type. The Scheduled Interval and Interval Type fields are then filled in by the system.

Item Card#

To link a template to an item, open the relevant item card and fill in the Maintenance Schedule Template field there.

Vehicles, Drivers, and Technicians#

You can create any number of technicians on this page and link them to a resource, device, location, or responsibility center.

The location or the user ID filled in for a technician is copied to all service orders that you enter the technician on.

You can also specify a technician on a service item card, with the selection window already filtered to this type. When you create entries in the maintenance cockpit, the Technician field on each entry that is linked to the service item is then filled in by the system, although you can still edit the field, if necessary.

Schedules on service contracts#

When you post a sales shipment, the system checks whether the item specified on the document is linked to a service item group that a service item is automatically created for in this case. If so, a valid service contract is determined and a line with EUR 0.01 is added per inspection type.

As a result, the same service item might appear on a contract more than once.

On each contract line, you can then see the starting date of the line, the inspections that are carried out, and the interval at which maintenance is performed, as well as when the equipment was last serviced, when it was scheduled to be serviced again, and when the next servicing date is.

The values in the Starting Date fields are retrieved from the posted shipment but can be changed manually, if necessary.

At any time, you can add a line to the contract manually. You can also delete it if the New Line checkbox on the line has been selected and the status of the contract has been set to Open. You can no longer do so if the Lock Contract checkbox is selected.

To end the line, you must fill in the Contract Expiration Date field.

Maintenance cockpit#

This cockpit helps you plan upcoming service cases. To open it, choose the Search icon, enter Maintenance Cockpit, and then choose the related link.

Afterward, you can use the Create Cockpit Entries function on the ribbon to retrieve all service lines that are due until a certain date. To narrow down their number even further, you can set a variety of filters on service contract header fields.

Each line on the cockpit then shows the most important information from a contract, including the items involved, the customer who has them, the types of inspection used, and the last and next servicing date. Any technician specified on a service item card is also automatically entered on the relevant lines.

To finish a line, fill in the Schedule On and Scheduled Technician fields and select the Planned checkbox on it.

You can also select multiple lines and run the Enter Values for Filtered Recs. Action on the ribbon to copy to them the Planned, Schedule On, and Scheduled Technician field values that you enter on the request page.

Running the Delete Records in Filter action, on the other hand, deletes all selected lines from the cockpit.

You can then run the Create Service Docs. action to create service orders from the lines. On the request page, you can turn on the Split by Technician toggle or select one of the options in the Combine Lines field to copy, by service item or customer, multiple contract lines to a new service order.

Based on your setup, the orders will look as described in the following table.

When the orders are created, the document numbers linked to them are entered on the maintenance cockpit entries so that you can later open an order by drilling down on the relevant Document No. field.

Additionally, the contract numbers are entered on the new service headers and lines. The service order type is also copied from each contract, as is the location and user ID you’ve filled in when you set up the Technicians page; the same goes for the type of inspection.

The date entered in the Schedule On field in the cockpit is copied to the Starting Date field on the relevant service order, or, more specifically, to the service item line that it was specified for. If different starting dates are filled in on an order, the Starting Date field on the Details FastTab remains blank.

The work date, on the other hand, is copied to the Posting Date and Document Date fields on the Invoicing FastTab. You can change them manually, as you can all other fields, except for the Response Date field.

When you delete a service order, the data entered on the maintenance cockpit line is deleted as well; when you post an order, the line is also deleted.

When a service shipment is posted, the Last Planned Service Date and Next Planned Service Date fields on the service contract are recalculated, whereas the Last Service Date field on the General FastTab is updated on the service item.

Equipment entries#

When you choose Post > Ship or Post > Ship and Consume on the ribbon of a service order, the system creates a posted service shipment and checks if the items that are specified on it are tracked via serial numbers. If they are, the consumption calculated for them will be copied to the service ledger entries and the equipment entries linked to the relevant serial number information card.

You can cancel equipment entries manually by running the Change Cancellation Qty. action on the Equipment Entries page. This opens a page where you can see the full quantity of the line in the New Cancellation Qty. field and can change it manually.

To have the Cancellation Qty. set automatically, you must fill in the Equipment Entry No. field on an entry so that the quantity is filled in by the system when you post the relevant line.

Invoice a service contract#

When you invoice a contract, the system copies to the unposted invoice all contract lines where the ending date of the billing interval is later than the line’s starting date.

Example
The next invoice is due in September. Two lines show a starting date of 10/01/2023. These lines will not be included on the current but the next invoice (sent in October).

Accessories#

When a customer sends accessories along, you can record them even if they’re not known to the system.

On service receipts#

On service receipts, you can run the Accessories action from the Lines FastTab and choose an existing item, resource, or G/L account to specify auxiliary equipment—or fill in a text line if the equipment you’ve received isn’t in the system yet.

The descriptions can be replaced as well. If available, you can also enter serial or lot numbers or expiration dates here.

When you post the receipt, each accessory is then assigned to a certain service item line and can be changed there, if necessary.

On a service order#

If you create a service item line for a service order manually, you can again use the Accessories action to add auxiliary equipment.

Accessories can also be shown and entered on service item worksheets. When you delete a service item line, the related accessories are deleted as well.

When you post a shipment, you can run the Accessories action on an equipment line of the posted document to see the accessories that are being shipped together with the equipment. You can no longer edit them, however.

Link to equipment#

With the Equipment Entries function, you can create a link to equipment specified on a sales or purchase document when you post to an item, a resource, or a G/L entry.

During posting, the information pertaining to the equipment is then copied from the related serial number information card to the Equipment Entries page, which you can get to from the document.

When you post the document, the system checks if the new item ledger entries meet the following criteria:

• The posting can be traced to a sales or purchase order.
• The entries contain serial numbers.
• Sale or Purchase is selected as the ledger entry type.

If one of these criteria isn’t met, the process is canceled.

If the criteria are met, the system checks whether equipment entries exist for the document (a sales or purchase order) and, if available, copies them to the serial number information card.

Consumption or similar, for example, from a production order, isn’t posted in this context. In the case of sales and purchase orders, the important thing is to ‘carry along’ and visualize the information required to identify the items posted (with or without serial numbers).

However, this means that when you ship or receive items tracked by serial number with a quantity greater than 1, the system cannot tell which number is assigned to what equipment entry, as the entries are created by document line. All of them can therefore be assigned only to the first serial number that is posted.

As a result, the system also cannot check the availability of certain numbers or the quantities on partial shipments. With no BOM assigned either, it can also not check whether the selected items correspond to the required product.

When you post a line of the document (whether shipped partially or completely), the equipment entry linked to the line is deleted.

Source, whereabouts, and use of equipment#

On the Serial No. Information Card, you can now see the manufacturer, the supplier, and the current location of a piece of equipment.

To be able to use this feature, however, you need to choose Info Card Required on an item card ribbon. A serial number information card is then set up automatically when you post to the item.

Warranty times#

Multiple warranty fields have been added to the Item Card page and are used during the processes described in the following.

Posting a receipt
The Vendor Warranty Until field on the serial number information card that is created automatically is filled in by the system based on when you received the delivery.

Posting a shipment
The Customer Warranty Until field is filled in on the card based on when the delivery was shipped, and the shipment date is copied to the Startup Date field.

Creating a service item
The end of warranty (if available) is retrieved from the Customer Warranty Until field specified on the associated serial number information card.

When you enter a service item on a service item line, the warranty dates are filled in automatically. If no service item is specified, they’re retrieved from the serial number information card that is linked to the line item, with the ending date copied from the Customer Warranty Until or Customer Warranty Repairs Until field, whichever is later.

Returning an item to a customer
The Warranty Repairs Until field on the serial number information card linked to the line item is updated with the document date from the shipping document (provided the Item Repairs Warranty field has been filled in).

Archive documents#

Despite archiving capabilities in sales, the standard app doesn’t keep a record of service quotes or orders after they’ve been completed. But considering that archived documents might still be of some help to you, you can tell the system in medtec365 to keep them around.

Like in sales, you can use a toggle to specify how quotes and orders should be archived:

1. Choose the Search icon, enter Service Management Setup, and then choose the related link.
2. On the General FastTab, in the Archive Service Quotes or Archive Service Orders field, select if you want quotes or orders archived automatically or run a function to do this.

If set to Always, a quote is archived when it is printed, deleted, or posted. When set to Never, you need to run the Archive action on the ribbon.

You can see the number of versions a document has been archived in the No. of Archived Versions field on the document itself, and in the Sell-to Customer Service History FactBox, in the Arch. Quotes or Arch. Orders field. Clicking the highlighted number in any of these will get you to a specific document.

Besides the document, the system will archive the comments, beginning texts, and ending texts stored for it.

Like in sales, you can also restore an archived version if it is linked to a service order that hasn’t been completed yet.