Fill out the form below to request information.


Property Insurance Appraisal

Capital Projects

Facilities Management

Fixed Asset & Inventory Mgmt

On-Site Asset Inventory Services

Fleet Management

Fuel Management

Space Management

Surplus Management

Loading...

East Bay Municipal Utility District Fleet Management Case Study

Going the Extra Mile

How the East Bay Municipal Utility District Uses AssetWorks FleetFocus to Manage Resources and Increase Customer Satisfaction

Along the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay sits Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Known as the East Bay, the landscape is a vibrant and beautiful mixture of urban, eclectic cities and scenic recreational space. Whether enduring lengthy droughts or protecting the environment, residents often strive to make wise water decisions for themselves and the region at large. They rely on the East Bay Municipal Utility District to manage this precious resource.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) supplies water and provides wastewater treatment for Alameda and Contra Costa counties. EBMUD is a publicly owned utility formed under the Municipal Utility District Act passed by the California Legislature in 1921. The utility has approximately 2,000 full-time employees – 25 comprise the fleet staff – and it is frequently celebrated for its high quality service and environmental best practices. AssetWorks FleetFocus is the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) solution that EBMUD uses to manage its successful fleet operations.

One Fleet Solution = Many Happy Customers

EBMUD's Fleet Management department maintains 1,215 vehicles. The work provided by the department impacts all aspects of the utility. Field staff needs safe, reliable vehicles just as local residents need ongoing service in a timely manner. Administrators require tracking and budgetary accountability just as mechanics need an efficient, easy to use database to help sustain momentum.

"To run a fleet well, you need good information for constant evaluation," stated Bob Sonnenfelt, Equipment Supervisor, Fleet Management, East Bay Municipal Utility District. "FleetFocus allows us to know about problems long before they impact business which helps us be a better service provider within our organization."

EBMUD Fleet Management processes 6,000 work orders a year, averaging 12-15 vehicles a day. In order to keep all of its customers happy, while ensuring vehicle uptime in a cost-effective manner, EBMUD looks to AssetWorks FleetFocus to elevate its operations. Some of the innovative ways in which the utility uses FleetFocus to achieve best practices include:

  • Systematic Replacement Cycles – By using the FleetFocus EBMUD developed a systematic replacement analysis function that includes a hands on evaluation of the unit as well as a cost benefit analysis and history review, EBMUD is able to leverage an effective, objective replacement process based purely on facts, not politics.
  • Improved Parts Operation – EBMUD is able to set parts operations parameters that match very specific terms. This practice helps the Fleet Management department accurately provide needed items, while carefully managing inventory carrying costs.
  • Productivity Monitoring for Constant Improvement – EBMUD doesn't use timecards for their fleet technicians. Instead, FleetFocus captures all shop labor in real-time. Technicians log on and off tasks in the application via shop floor computers. By tracking direct and indirect time in real-time, the utility can accurately assess productivity as it relates to mechanics, vehicles, and tasks, thereby establishing realistic standards and goals for productivity excellence within its staff.
  • Seamless System Integration – FleetFocus easily integrates with EBMUD's other systems, including its automated fuel system, which provides both fuel consumption and updated odometer readings. The system integration also includes the Networkfleet™ AVL/GPS wireless vehicle management system, which provides another point of data capture for odometer readings and provides vehicle diagnostic information, alerting maintenance immediately through FleetFocus when the engine computer on a vehicle reports a fault code.
  • Extended Preventive Maintenance Cycle – By accessing highly accurate, up to the minute maintenance and repair data in the work order center of FleetFocus, EBMUD can better determine the reasons for maintenance and repair. Over time, this practice saves labor time and costs, and has extended the PM cycle on most vehicles from every three months to 1-2 times per year.

Functionality Leads to Improved Service

Ultimately, when it comes to utility fleets, "too many vehicles" represents wasted money and "too few vehicles" limits work that needs to be done. Achieving the perfect balance requires knowing when to replace equipment and ensuring fleet vehicles are ready and where they need to be when required. FleetFocus is vital to EBMUD's efforts to effectively and efficiently run its fleet operations while offering impeccable service to its internal and external customers.

"AssetWorks built FleetFocus to include functionality that is the best in the market," stated Sonnenfelt. "We've been able to extend PM cycles, extend replacement cycles, minimize our parts inventory, and identify and manage where our labor is going. All this results in productivity gains and makes our operation stronger since working with AssetWorks."

"The East Bay Municipal Utility District has always been innovative, from using hybrid vehicles to its focus on reducing waste streams and protecting the environment," said James Schnepp, Vice President, AssetWorks. "The utility's Fleet Management team is also innovative, using novel ways to improve its fleet operations and service levels. We are honored to be a part of EBMUD's continued success."